[Source/Observer Network, Chen Sijia] According to a May 16 report by The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering having immigrants participate in reality shows and earn citizenship through competitions related to American culture. A spokesperson for the department stated that they have already contacted the producer who proposed this plan, and the relevant proposal is currently under review.

The report said that U.S. producer Rob Worsoff hopes to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to produce a reality show called "The American," where immigrants will compete in various events about American culture across multiple locations in the United States, such as participating in a "Gold Rush" competition in San Francisco's mines or assembling Model T car chassis in Detroit's factories.

According to Worsoff's submitted plan, he intends to have participants first travel by ship to Ellis Island in New York, then board trains to compete across the country. Each episode of the show will last one hour, with one participant being eliminated each episode, and the final winner will receive U.S. citizenship. Worsoff also plans to have a well-known naturalized American host the program, welcoming all participants at Ellis Island.

Worsoff, a Canadian-American who directed the reality show "Duck Dynasty," told The Wall Street Journal that his proposal aims to "convey hope" and "celebrate the significance of becoming an American citizen."

Worsoff emphasized that eliminated participants will not face deportation. "This is not immigration's Hunger Games, where it's like 'Hey, you lost, we'll deport you on a ship,'" he said.

U.S. producer Rob Worsoff Video screenshot

This is not the first time Worsoff has submitted a reality show proposal. During the Obama administration and Biden administration, he had discussed similar plans with the Department of Homeland Security but failed to reach an agreement. Worsoff said he has not yet contacted current Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and does not know if she is aware of his proposal, but the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security "reacted positively," and initial discussions were held online.

In response, Tricia McClaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, replied that Noem has not reviewed any reality show proposals. However, McClaughlin said that the department has been in contact with Worsoff, and his plan is in the "initial stages of the review process." "Every proposal needs thorough review before it is rejected or approved," she said.

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security receives hundreds of television program proposals annually, including documentaries or investigative programs. It is not uncommon for the U.S. government and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with television producers; for example, the Department of Homeland Security once collaborated with National Geographic Channel's "To Catch a Smuggler" producers.

After Trump returned to the White House, the U.S. government tightened its immigration policies and began mass deportations of illegal immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security under Noem's leadership places great emphasis on television promotion, actively promoting Trump's political agenda through advertisements. The report said the department has allocated over $200 million for an advertising campaign urging illegal immigrants to leave the U.S.

On February 27, San Diego, California, U.S. government using special planes to repatriate immigrants Visual China

Trump announced last week that he would offer $1,000 and a return flight ticket to each immigrant who voluntarily leaves. He claimed this was a necessary measure to provide another way for people to leave the U.S.

"What we want to do is voluntary repatriation. We will pay a certain amount to everyone, arrange a comfortable flight for them, and send them back to their original place," Trump said. "They have some time to handle these matters. If they successfully leave, we will cooperate with them so that perhaps one day, if they are good people and make a little effort, they can come back again."

According to USA Today, under the White House's statement, during Trump's first 100 days in office, the U.S. government has deported approximately 140,000 immigrants. Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told Congress on May 14 that the agency's goal is to deport 1.1 million people, prioritizing the removal of convicted illegal immigrants.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505703433073885734/

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