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The Department of Homeland Security is using holiday themes to promote the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda, releasing a string of Christmas-themed memes across its social media accounts.
A post on DHS’ X account on Friday read, “You’re going ho ho home,” alongside altered images of masked federal agents wearing Santa hats and Christmas lights. Holiday decorations also appeared on vehicles and a police shield featured in the graphics. DHS later replied to the post with a GIF of President Donald Trump guiding Santa’s sleigh while wearing a Santa hat.
On Monday, DHS shared another image captioned, “Check out Santa’s naughty list,” showing a Santa-like figure reviewing mug shots of criminal illegal immigrants scrolling across a screen. The agency described the individuals as the “worst of the worst.”
“DHS will continue using every tool at its disposal to keep the American people informed as our agents work to Make America Safe Again,” Tricia McLaughlin, the department’s assistant secretary for public affairs, told Axios.
The agency has increasingly added humor to its messaging. On Dec. 1, DHS advertised what it called “the best Cyber Monday deal of the season” for illegal immigrants who voluntarily depart: a free flight and a $1,000 incentive. Days earlier, on Nov. 24, DHS posted: “Merry Christmas. Help report and deport illegal aliens: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.”
Newsmax reported that it is not the first time DHS has used comedy to highlight enforcement operations. In June, the agency posted an Instagram video featuring a “Cartel party next door?” tagline followed by footage of officers making arrests, set to Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.” The caption noted that ICE agents had arrested 72 “criminal illegal aliens” and seized narcotics and firearms during an operation at a Charleston, South Carolina, nightclub.
For Valentine’s Day, the White House posted a meme featuring President Trump and border adviser Tom Homan on a pink, heart-themed background that read, “Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you.”