Pokémon Meets Controversy: ICE's Newest Recruitment Tool?

In a shocking twist, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is making headlines for a new social media strategy that blends immigration enforcement with pop culture. The agency has released a video celebrating its immigration raids, all while engaging a younger audience by syncing it to the beloved Pokémon theme song.

Shared on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) X/Twitter and the official White House TikTok account, the video is humorously captioned 'Gotta Catch 'Em All.' But there's nothing lighthearted about the content. Featuring clips from the Pokémon anime, it includes visuals of Ash Ketchum tossing a Poké Ball and even custom Pokémon cards highlighting the individuals arrested, complete with details of their alleged offenses.

Viral Video Raises Eyebrows and Concerns

With over 30 million views on X/Twitter and 3.8 million on TikTok, the video is drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. Fans of the Pokémon franchise are calling out the use of Nintendo's intellectual property and urging the company—owner of one-third of the franchise’s rights through The Pokémon Company—to consider legal action against the U.S. government.

A History of Controversial Choices