Immigrants to Compete for Citizenship on TV?

Kristi Noem at GITMO, 2025. Photo courtesy of Department of Homeland Security. Public domain.

Would you compete in a log-rolling contest, build a rocket, or pan for gold to win a U.S. passport?

That's the premise of "The American," a proposed reality TV show where immigrants travel the country competing in themed challenges — all for a chance to fast-track their U.S. citizenship. While officials say the show is merely a pitch at this point, it's already igniting a national debate. The Department of Homeland Security, now led by Secretary Kristi Noem, is facing backlash over reports that she allegedly supports the idea, even as DHS publicly insists she hasn't reviewed the proposal.

A Game Show Path to Citizenship?

According to documents reviewed by multiple outlets, "The American" would feature 12 immigrant contestants traveling the U.S. by train — dubbed "The Citizen Ship" — competing in regional contests tied to American culture, such as making pizza in New York, rocket building in Florida, or balancing on logs in Wisconsin. The show would culminate in a grand finale on Capitol Hill, where one lucky contestant would be granted U.S. citizenship in a televised ceremony.

Producer Rob Worsoff, a Canadian immigrant known for producing "Duck Dynasty," claims the show is meant to celebrate patriotism and start a national conversation about what it means to be American, according to Vanity Fair.

But critics say it risks trivializing a process that affects millions of lives.

DHS's Shifting Message

Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary overseeing public outreach, confirmed the agency had a call with Worsoff and acknowledged the pitch is in the "in the very beginning stages of that vetting process," according to USA TODAY.

She initially denied Secretary Noem had any awareness or involvement, calling initial reporting of Noem's involvement "completely false."

However, the Daily Mail, which reviewed the 35-page pitch deck, reported that Noem supports the project and wants it to move forward. The outlet cited unnamed sources who claim the Secretary sees the show as a "showcase" for the immigration process and the American Dream.

So far, Noem herself has not commented publicly, even as the controversy swells around her.

'This Isn't the Hunger Games'

Worsoff has repeatedly emphasized that "The American" is meant to be uplifting, not cruel. According to USA TODAY, he said, "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'."

Instead, eliminated contestants would walk away with "iconically American" consolation prizes like airline miles or Starbucks^® gift cards, according to the Daily Beast.

But critics argue that turning immigration into prime-time entertainment is inherently problematic. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said on MSNBC, "During this Trump Administration, it seems like every day we lose more and more of our humanity," according to TIME. "The idea that you would do a reality show and have people compete for citizenship, it's just sick, a sick idea."

Democratic New York Representative Jerry Nadler echoed that sentiment, posting online that "human lives are not game show props."

Reality TV Roots, Real-Life Stakes

The controversy surrounding "The American" lands at a time when the Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, including seeking to deploy 20,000 National Guard members to aid in deportations.

For critics, a reality show about citizenship amid this political backdrop feels especially tone-deaf. However, supporters argue that the show could personalize immigration in a way that humanizes participants. "We'll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy — hearing their backstories — as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American," reads Worsoff's pitch, according to the Daily Beast.

The show doesn't yet have a green light, a network, or a set air date. But even in its conceptual stage, "The American" has already become one of the most polarizing TV ideas in recent memory — one that has thrust DHS and Kristi Noem into the center of a culture clash about immigration, patriotism, and spectacle.

As the pitch makes its way through the vetting process, all eyes will be on whether Secretary Noem, a figure increasingly known for high-profile stunts and social media theatrics, officially backs the show or distances herself from it.

References: Is the Department of Homeland Security Considering a Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete for U.S. Citizenship? | DHS considers reality show pitting immigrants against one another for citizenship | Meet Kristi Noem, America's Chief Immigration Enforcement Influencer | Kristi Noem Wants Migrants to Compete for Citizenship on New Reality Show | DHS exploring reality TV show where migrants compete for citizenship | ICE Barbie Kristi Noem is backing insane reality TV show where immigrants compete for fast-tracked citizenship