Dr. Phil Joins ICE Raids in LA
Dr. Phil delivers remarks alongside President Donald Trump during a National Day of Prayer event, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden. Photo by Molly Riley, courtesy of the White House. Public domain.
He built a fortune by telling troubled teens to "get real." Now Dr. Phil McGraw is taking his southern drawl and camera crew into the heart of one of America's most contentious political battles — immigration enforcement.
That's right. The man who once counseled bickering families from a soft leather chair is now riding shotgun with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as they execute federal raids across Los Angeles. And he's filming it all for his new streaming network, MeritTV.
What is a daytime TV psychologist doing in the middle of immigration raids that have sparked street protests, legal threats, and the deployment of the National Guard and hundreds of Marines? That's a question more and more Americans are asking as Dr. Phil positions himself not just as a media figure but as a frontline commentator in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
A TV Shrink in the Homeland Security War Room
On Friday, June 6, as ICE agents conducted surprise raids across L.A.'s garment district and outside a Home Depot in Paramount, Dr. Phil was reportedly in the Homeland Security Investigations field office in Los Angeles. He wasn't there to counsel the detained or interview families. He was there for access to footage, to Trump's border czar Tom Homan, and to the political spectacle playing out on the streets.
His network, MeritTV, claimed his presence was intended "to get a first-hand look at the targeted operations," though he did not physically join agents during the arrests to avoid escalating tensions, according to The Guardian.
The footage is part of a two-part primetime special, beginning with coverage of the L.A. raids and concluding with a post-operation sit-down with Homan on "the policy shifts, national security risks, and humanitarian efforts shaping the future of immigration in America," according to the Cut.
So, what does this say about the line between journalism, propaganda, and reality TV? Depending on whom you ask, it's either a long-overdue media exposé — or a televised invasion of privacy dressed up as "patriotic storytelling."
Made-for-TV Immigration Crackdown?
Dr. Phil's shift from studio therapy to government operations isn't a one-time stunt. Back in January, he embedded with ICE during a raid in Chicago. That livestream included him questioning detainees, some of whom asked not to speak without a lawyer, and one stunned migrant who reportedly recognized him mid-arrest, exclaiming, "You're Dr. Phil?!" according to the Daily Beast.
That Chicago footage was widely criticized by civil rights groups and immigration attorneys. But it doesn't appear to have deterred McGraw. Instead, it gave him a formula of access, drama, and a built-in audience hungry for strong borders and strong characters.
Now in L.A., he's sticking with the playbook. MeritTV says he stayed behind the scenes this time to avoid inflaming an already volatile situation. Still, he was alongside ICE brass before and after the operation and filmed his exclusive interview with Homan shortly after 41 individuals were arrested as part of a workplace sweep tied to an alleged money laundering ring, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Is This Journalism, Entertainment, or Political Theater?
Notably, Dr. Phil is not a journalist. Additionally, he reportedly hasn't held a psychology license since 2006 and has no expertise in immigration law.
What he does have is celebrity clout and a camera crew. That's apparently enough to gain exclusive access to ICE's top brass and help shape the narrative.
McGraw has positioned his coverage as a way to show Americans what immigration enforcement looks like behind the scenes — but critics argue he's helping normalize the optics of controversial raids that have drawn condemnation from local leaders and legal experts alike.
Mary McNamara, writing for the L.A. Times, wrote that McGraw's presence conveyed a tone of "this is a made-for-TV event brought to you by the same reality-star-led administration that proposed making legal immigration into a television competition," suggesting that the Trump administration may be using McGraw — and his network — as a reality-television filter for controversial law enforcement actions.
Enter MeritTV: Trump-Friendly Media With a Mission
Dr. Phil's MeritTV isn't just any streaming startup — it's part of a growing conservative media ecosystem closely aligned with Trump's immigration messaging. Since its launch, the network has provided exclusive access to top Trump officials and has leaned heavily into culture war topics. McGraw endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign and described him as "a man of deep faith, a man of deep conviction," as reported by The Guardian.
Now, the channel is offering ICE exclusives — and, in effect, a narrative that complements the administration's media strategy. Trump officials like Homan and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem have allegedly made a point of publicizing ICE raids across cable and social media to build support for mass deportation policy.
This L.A. episode arrives just as protests erupt across California and lawsuits fly. Governor Gavin Newsom has reportedly accused the administration of overreach and promised legal action over the unauthorized deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops.
Where Does This End?
The sight of a former talk show host hovering around federal agents as they arrest undocumented workers in a sanctuary city is more than a curiosity. It's a shift in the way political messaging works and who gets to control it.
References: Talkshow host Dr Phil joined Ice agents for Los Angeles immigration raids Why on earth is Dr. Phil involved in immigration raids? Another made-for-TV event from a reality star president Dr. Phil was embedded with ICE during controversial Los Angeles immigration raids Dr. Phil Worms His Way Behind Scenes on L.A. ICE Raid Dr. Phil Brought a Camera Crew to the L.A. ICE Raids
