AP Photo/Jack Dura, File
The Department of Homeland Security is pushing back on a report that its boss, Kristi Noem, is backing a reality TV show where illegal immigrants compete for U.S. citizenship — but admits it’s being looked at.
The Daily Mail reported Thursday that Noem was behind The American — a bizarre, unscripted competition show that would see 12 pre-vetted immigrants travel the country on a train, perform “cultural” challenges like clam-digging in Maine or assembling a Model-T Ford in Detroit, and ultimately win U.S. citizenship in a made-for-TV finale on the Capitol steps.
In a statement posted to X Thursday night, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged that the agency is considering the idea, but slammed the Daily Mail’s reporting of Noem’s involvement as an “affront to journalism.”
“This is completely false,”McLaughlin said. “Secretary Noem has not ‘backed’ or [is] even aware of the pitch of any scripted or reality show.”
McLaughlin said the pitch had been submitted to the agency — one of
Social media users torched the idea, comparing it to dystopian sci-fi films like The Hunger Games and The Running Man.
The pitch, reportedly written by Canadian reality TV producer Rob Worsoff, who was behind reality TV hits like Duck Dynasty and Dating Naked.
Worsoff allegedly floated Hollywood A-listers Sofia Vergara and Ryan Reynolds to host and promised “enormous corporate sponsorship opportunities.” Losing contestants on the show would go home with prizes like airline points or a Starbucks gift card.