DHS responds to reality show concept of migrants competing for citizenship

DHS is supposedly backing "The American," a television show concept from the creator of "Duck Dynasty," though DHS denies the claims. — Image credit: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

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Summary

A competition?

According to the Daily Mail, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem backs a reality show, proposed as "The American," where 12 individuals seeking citizenship would compete.

DHS denial

While the news has spread, DHS has denied the claims, saying that the proposal has not been approved or denied yet.

Previous attempts

Writer and producer Rob Worsoff says he pitched the same show idea to the Obama and Biden administrations.

Full story

Is Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem backing a new reality TV show where immigrants compete for U.S. citizenship? That’s what some media outlets are reporting, but the Department of Homeland Security is pushing back, denying that Noem has any involvement in the proposal. However, the agency also confirmed that, while it has not approved the pitch, it has not officially rejected it either.

In an exclusive report by the Daily Mail, Noem is said to be “backing” what the outlet calls an “insane reality TV show where immigrants compete for fast-tracked citizenship.” The article references a 35-page program pitch, and claims Noem is “even offering” government officials to tally votes for the made-for-TV contest.

Reality show pitched by former ‘Duck Dynasty’ producer

The proposal reportedly came from Rob Worsoff, a writer and producer best known for his work on “Duck Dynasty.” He pitched the show “The American,” in which 12 individuals seeking legal status would arrive on a New York island aboard what the pitch calls “The Citizen-Ship.”

According to the pitch, the show would be hosted by a “famous naturalized American,” with Colombian actress Sofia Vergara and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds cited as possible hosts. The grand finale would feature the winner being sworn in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Worsoff says there wouldn’t be ‘a dry eye’ watching finale

In excerpts from the pitch obtained by the Daily Mail, Worsoff wrote, “We’ll join in the laughter, tears, frustration and joy — hearing their backstories — as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American.”

“There won’t be a dry eye within 10 miles,” he reportedly added.

The remaining 11 contestants would not be deported but would reportedly receive a leg up in their citizenship applications.

DHS responds

DHS reacted to the media’s description of the situation, stating that it has had no involvement with the reality TV concept.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin responded on X, writing, “This is completely false” in reference to claims that Noem has backed or is even aware of the show’s pitch.

This is completely false. @DailyMail’s “reporting” is an affront to journalism. Secretary Noem has not “backed” or even aware of the pitch of any scripted or reality show. @DHSgov receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE… https://t.co/srSBHYl3Vp
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) May 16, 2025

McLaughlin added that “DHS receives hundreds of television show pitches a year,” and that “each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.”

She clarified that this particular pitch “has not received approval or denial by staff.”

Rob Worsoff issued a statement on the Daily Mail’s report, telling The Wall Street Journal, “This isn’t ‘The Hunger Games’ for immigrants. This is not, ‘Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat out of the country.’”

Worsoff also told the Journal he pitched the same idea during the Obama and Biden administrations, but to no avail.

Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) and Jack Henry (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Department of Homeland Security, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Immigration, Kristi Noem, Television

[Karah Rucker]

IS DHS SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM WANTING IMMIGRANTS TO COMPETE FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP ON A NEW REALITY TV SHOW?

THAT’S WHAT SOME MEDIA OUTLETS ARE REPORTING –

AND NOW DHS – IS RESPONDING.

IN A DAILY MAIL EXCLUSIVE – NOEM IS **SAID TO BE “BACKING” AN “INSANE REALITY TV SHOW WHERE IMMIGRANTS COMPETE FOR FAST-TRACKED CITIZENSHIP.”

THE OUTLET SUGGESTS THERE’S A “35-PAGE PROGRAM PITCH” –

AND NOEM – IS “EVEN OFFERING” GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS “TO TALLY VOTES FOR THE MADE-FOR-TV CONTEST.”

THE REALITY SHOW PITCH – REPORTEDLY CAME FROM “ROB WORSOFF” – A WRITER AND PRODUCER – PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS WORK ON “DUCK DYNASTY.”

WORSOFF SUGGESTED THE SHOW COULD BE CALLED “THE AMERICAN.”

12 PEOPLE VYING FOR LEGAL STATUS – SHOWING UP ON A NEW YORK ISLAND ABOARD WHAT THEY WOULD CALL “THE CITIZEN-SHIP.”

AND THE SHOW PITCH REPORTEDLY WANTS A “FAMOUS NATURALIZED AMERICAN” TO HOST – AND NAMES COLUMBIAN SOFIA VERGARA OR CANADIAN RYAN REYNOLDS AS EXAMPLES.

IN THE SEASON FINALE, ONE LUCKY WINNER WOULD BE SWORN IN ON THE STEPS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL.

WORSOFF SAYING “We’ll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy—hearing their backstories—as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American.”

AND ABOUT THE FINALE – HE REPORTEDLY WROTE –

“THERE WON’T BE A DRY EYE WITHIN 10 MILES” IN HIS SHOW PITCH –

FIRST OBTAINED BY THE DAILY MAIL.

THE OTHER 11 CONTESTANTS WHO DON’T WIN – WOULD NOT BE DEPORTED – BUT WOULD RECEIVE A LEG UP IN THEIR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS.

SO WHAT DOES DHS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE REALITY SHOW PROPOSAL?

THEY’RE CRITICAL OF THE WAY THE MEDIA HAS PORTRAYED IT –

SAYING THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS HAD NO PART IN THE REALITY TV IDEA.

BUT THEY ALSO SUGGEST – THE DOOR ISN’T COMPLETELY SHUT ON THE THOUGHT OF THIS BECOMING A REALITY.

DHS SPOKESPERSON TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN WROTE ON X –

“THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE” IN REGARDS TO ANY REPORTING THAT SECRETARY NOEM HAS “BACKED OR IS EVEN AWARE OF THE PITCH OF ANY SCRIPTED OR REALITY SHOW.”

SHE SAYS “DHS RECEIVES HUNDREDS OF TV SHOW PITCHES A YEAR” –

AND THAT “EACH PROPOSAL UNDERGOES A THOROUGH VETTING PROCESS PRIOR TO DENIAL OR APPROVAL.”

“THIS PITCH – HAS NOT RECEIVED APPROVAL – **OR DENIAL** – BY STAFF.

WORSOFF RESPONDED TO THE DAILYMAIL’S REPORT IN A MEDIA STATEMENT TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL –

SAYING “This isn’t ‘The Hunger Games’ for immigrants. This is not, ‘Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat out of the country.”

WORSOFF ALSO TOLD THE JOURNAL HE PITCHED THE SAME IDEA DURING THE OBAMA AND BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS – BUT TO NO AVAIL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ANY UPDATES FROM THIS STORY –

AND YOU CAN TOO – BY DOWNLOADING THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP TODAY.

Why this story matters

Conflicting reports about a reality TV show proposal involving U.S. citizenship raise questions about media accuracy, government vetting processes and the evolving portrayal of immigration in public discourse.

Media accuracy

The situation highlights how claims about government involvement can spread, prompting official denials and clarifications.

Government vetting

The Department of Homeland Security states it receives numerous pitches and follows a formal process for consideration, emphasizing the routine nature of such proposals and the importance of clear communication about official endorsement.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 48 media outlets

Community reaction

Social media users and various commentators are cited as expressing skepticism, concern or outright criticism of the show concept, often comparing it to dystopian stories like "The Hunger Games."

Context corner

Historically, reality TV has often been used to publicize complex societal or personal journeys, but converting the immigration and naturalization process into entertainment is unprecedented.

Debunking

According to official statements from the Department of Homeland Security, claims that Secretary Kristi Noem is actively supporting or aware of the show are denied. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, stated, “Secretary Noem has not ‘backed’ or even reviewed the pitch.”