The Trump administration has expelled the US from Salvador from El Salvador over 200 alleged members of Venezuelan bands. Photo: AA / Abaca / Abaca Press / Profimedia
The US Department for Internal Security (DHS) analyzes an unusual proposal to collaborate on a television reality show in which immigrants would compete to achieve American citizenship. The project would include episodes of one hour with evidence inspired by the history and culture of the United States, and the winner would be naturalized at the end of the show, notes The Guardian.
The DHS spokesman, Tricia McLaughlin, described the idea for New York Times as “a celebration of being American” and said that the institution is “open to analyze unconventional proposals”, given that “we need to bring patriotism and civic spirit to the foreground.” At the same time, she said that the idea was neither approved nor rejected by the agency team.
The information arises in the context in which US President Donald Trump, former star of the Apprentice TV reality show, carries out an extensive repression campaign against immigration.
Among those concerned are not only immigrants without documents, but also permanent legal residents, refugees and persons with temporary status or in judicial procedures. In some cases, including American citizens were deported with their parents without documents, writes The Guardian.
The department wanted to specify that the Secretary for Internal Security, Kristi Noem, was not aware of the proposal. However, Noem has previously attracted the attention of public opinion through an approach considered theatrical in the application of immigration policies.
Shortly after taking over the position, the former governor of the state of South Dakota appeared equipped in tactical uniform, in a field action along with immigration agents. He also paid a visit to El Salvador, where, wearing a $ 50,000 Rolex watch, he was photographed in a prison that houses hundreds of men deported by the Trump administration without complying with the legal procedures.
“It is not The Hunger Games for immigrants”
The project was proposed by Rob Worsoff, a Canadian producer and screenwriter known for the Duck Dynasty show, popular among Donald Trump's supporters. Worsoff said that the idea came from their own experience with the naturalization process and mentioned that one of the evidence could involve a competition inspired by NASA, in which participants must assemble and launch a rocket.
According to Wall Street Journal, the proposal includes episodes of one hour and would start with immigrants by sailing to Ellis Island, the former main entry point.
The final would end with the winner taking the citizenship oath.
“This is not The Hunger Games for immigrants. It's not about: 'If you lose, we get on a boat and we send you from the country.' No one is deported because he lost to the competition,” Worsoff for Wall Street Journal told.
McLaughlin said that DHS receives hundreds of media project proposals annually, including for immigration documentaries. “Each proposal is subject to a rigorous evaluation process before being approved or rejected,” she said.
Worsof's proposal was, according to him, sent for the first time during the Obama administration, and then again in the mandate of President Joe Biden.
