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Immigrant reality show for US citizenship? Homeland Security reviews ‘out of box’ pitch

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the proposal as 'a celebration of being an American.'

The proposal comes amid an ongoing immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been criticised for its broad deportation efforts. (File Photo)

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering an unconventional television show pitch in which immigrants would compete in a reality-style series for a chance to gain US citizenship, according to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. She described the proposal as “a celebration of being an American,” reported The New York Times. She also said the department is open to reviewing “out-of-the-box pitches.”

“This pitch has not received approval or rejection by staff,” McLaughlin clarified, adding that “each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.”

The project was first reported by the Daily Mail and has since drawn significant attention and criticism.

The man behind the idea: Rob Worsoff

The concept was developed by Rob Worsoff, a 49-year-old Canadian-born American producer known for his work on Duck Dynasty. Worsoff told The New York Times that the idea emerged from his personal experience with the US naturalisation process.

“We need a national conversation of what it means to be American,” Worsoff said. “We need to be reminded of how proud and how much of an honour it is to be American.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, a 36-slide pitch deck outlines a series of one-hour episodes beginning with contestants arriving at Ellis Island and culminating with the winner being sworn in as a US citizen.

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“This isn’t The Hunger Games for immigrants,” Worsoff told the Journal. “This is not: ‘Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat out of the country.’” He said that no participant would face deportation or penalties for not winning.

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Trump-era immigration policies

The proposal comes amid an ongoing immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been criticised for its broad deportation efforts affecting undocumented immigrants, refugees, lawful residents, and even families with US citizen children.

Despite mounting speculation, DHS has stated that the pitch has not reached Secretary Noem. The department “receives hundreds of television show pitches a year,” McLaughlin said, including proposals for documentaries on border operations and white-collar investigations.

At present, the show remains only a proposal.

(With inputs from The New York Times, The Guardian)

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