The US Department of Homeland Security is considering a “creative” proposal for a television gameshow where immigrants would compete to earn US citizenship. Department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the concept to the New York Times as a celebration of American values and would include challenges testing knowledge of American traditions. According to McLaughlin, the idea aims to boost patriotism and civic engagement and has not yet been approved or rejected by the staff.
Reports of the project emerged amid Donald Trump’s extensive immigration crackdown, which has affected not only undocumented immigrants but also legal permanent residents, refugees, and individuals with temporary status and pending court cases. Some US citizen children have been deported alongside undocumented parents.
Oversight of the deportation efforts falls under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has faced criticism for her televised approach to immigration enforcement. She participated in a ride-along with immigration agents and visited a prison in El Salvador, posing with deportees.
The idea for the reality TV show was proposed by Rob Worsoff, a Canadian-born producer known for his work on Duck Dynasty, a show popular among Trump supporters. In an interview with the New York Times, Worsoff shared that the idea came from his experience with the naturalization process. He suggested that challenges could include tasks such as assembling and launching a rocket.
The Wall Street Journal examined a 36-page presentation outlining Worsoff’s concept, which he pitched to the Department of Homeland Security under both the Obama and Biden administrations. The proposal includes one-hour episodes, with contestants starting at Ellis Island and participating in various themed challenges across the country, culminating in a citizenship ceremony for the winner.
Worsoff emphasized that the show is not aimed at punishing contestants, as losing does not result in deportation. The Daily Mail first reported on the idea, but the department denied that Secretary Noem was aware of the pitch, stating that every proposal undergoes a rigorous review before approval or rejection.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/16/trump-tv-gameshow-citizenship-report
