'Hunger Games'-Style Immigrant Reality Show Pitched To Homeland Security Sparks Outrage

According to a report in The Daily Mail, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly reviewing a pitch for a reality television show where immigrants would compete for a chance to fast-track their path to U.S. citizenship.

DHS is reportedly collaborating with writer and producer Rob Worsoff on a proposed reality television show titled The American, which risks turning a serious and often traumatic process into entertainment. The concept comes as the Trump administration continues to clamp down on asylum access and prepares to implement a sweeping deportation plan targeting millions of undocumented immigrants.

If the show moves forward, it would represent one of only two new pathways to citizenship under the current administration.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged the existence of the pitch, telling the press, “I think it’s a good idea.” However, confusion surrounds the level of departmental support. While some reports suggested Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is backing the proposal, DHS officials called that claim “completely false,” asserting that Noem is not aware of the project.

The Daily Mail reviewed the 35-page pitch for The American and noted that Worsoff, best known for his work on A&E’s Duck Dynasty, is now aiming to blend reality television with immigration policy in a high-profile format.

The pitch for the show reads, in part:

“We’ll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy — hearing their backstories — as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American. ... Along the way, we will be reminded what it means to be American – through the eyes of the people who want it most."

The show would reportedly kick off with 12 pre-selected contestants arriving at Ellis Island aboard a vessel dubbed The Citizen Ship, greeted by a celebrity host—preferably a naturalized U.S. citizen such as Sofia Vergara or Ryan Reynolds—and gifted a personalized baseball glove as a symbolic welcome.

From there, contestants would crisscross the country by train, tackling challenges tied to American culture and geography, such as log balancing in Wisconsin or rocket building in Cape Canaveral. Officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may be involved in tabulating results.

As the competition progresses, eliminated participants wouldn't walk away empty-handed. Instead, they'd receive outsized consolation prizes billed as quintessentially American—like a million airline miles, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, or free gas for life. While no brands have formally signed on, Worsoff claims the project has broad commercial appeal and strong sponsorship potential.

Many have condemned the proposal as something akin to The Hunger Games and questioned the ethics of turning the path to citizenship into a televised spectacle.

In his pitch, Worsoff reportedly emphasizes the show’s commercial viability, claiming it would not only be a television hit but would also "lend itself to enormous corporate sponsorship opportunities" that could benefit contestants directly.

While only one contestant would win expedited citizenship, those eliminated earlier in the competition wouldn’t walk away empty-handed—or empty-handed legally. According to the proposal, contestants who are knocked out could still continue with the traditional naturalization process, having already gone through portions of the vetting needed for the show.

McLaughlin, the aforementioned DHS spokesperson, pushed back on the outrage, saying that DHS "receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operation to white collar investigations by HSI." She said the pitch, which would undergo a "thorough vetting process," has not "received approval or denial by staff."

All in all, this is fitting for an administration led by the guy who (unfortunately) gave us The Apprentice.