The Immigration Games? DHS weighs wild new reality show concept where migrants compete for US citizenship

Economic Times

17-05-2025

The US Department of Homeland Security is considering a reality show concept. In this show, migrants will compete in challenges for a chance to win US citizenship. The show, titled 'The American', involves contestants traveling across the country. They will participate in region-specific cultural tasks. The winner may get sworn in as a citizen at the Capitol.
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The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reviewing a pitch for a reality television show in which migrants would compete for US citizenship through televised challenges. According to a Wall Street Journal report, while the proposal has sparked comparisons to dystopian fiction and prompted backlash on social media, DHS officials confirmed that the idea is undergoing a preliminary review.The concept, titled The American, was developed by Canadian-born writer and producer Rob Worsoff, who has worked on shows such as The Millionaire Matchmaker, Dating Naked, and Duck Dynasty. According to The Daily Mail, the proposal outlines a competitive format where 12 pre-vetted immigrants travel across the country, undertaking region-specific cultural challenges in a bid to fast-track their path to citizenship.The show begins on Ellis Island, with contestants arriving on a ship named 'The Citizen Ship.' Each participant would receive a baseball glove from a 'famous, naturalized American,' with names floated including Sofia Vergara, Ryan Reynolds, and Mila Kunis. None of them is formally attached to the project.From there, the contestants would board a train called 'The American' and compete in challenges such as collecting gold in San Francisco, rafting in Colorado, log-balancing in Wisconsin, rocket launching in Florida, clam-digging in Maine, assembling a Model T in Detroit, and delivering mail on horseback in Kansas.'We'll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy — hearing their backstories — as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American,' the pitch states, as quoted by The Daily Mail.DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to The Daily Beast that the department is reviewing the proposal but rejected claims that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem supports or is even aware of the pitch.She added that DHS receives hundreds of show pitches annually, ranging from border operation documentaries to white-collar crime programs. 'Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval. This pitch has not received approval or denial by staff,' she said.The show's finale reportedly involves the winner being sworn in as a US citizen on the steps of the Capitol by 'a top American politician or judge' as the US Air Force Thunderbirds fly overhead. Contestants who lose would receive 'iconically American' prizes such as a million American Airlines points, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, or a lifetime supply of 76 gasoline—though no companies are currently linked to the idea.Secretary Noem's approach at DHS has been marked by an emphasis on publicity, including a $200 million ad campaign urging undocumented immigrants to return home. Her recent visit to a high-security prison in El Salvador, where she posed before inmates wearing a $50,000 Rolex, further drew media attention and criticism.Worsoff has argued in the pitch that the show could attract major sponsorship deals and broad commercial success. However, the project still requires financial backing and a distribution partner.As of now, there is no confirmation on whether the show will proceed.