Every U.S. president enforces deportation laws, but the new administration under President Donald Trump has taken immigration enforcement to a whole new level—making it a TV show—blending law enforcement with a reality TV media blitz. Led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the raids have sparked intense debate, with supporters calling it tough on crime and critics saying it’s cruel. His administration makes sure the public not only hears about immigration raids but sees them in real-time, hence the term “deportation TV.”

Through exclusive media access, social media promotion and curated video clips, Trump’s immigration strategy is as much about optics as it is about policy. The administration’s goal appears two-fold: deter potential migrants from coming to the U.S. and prove to Trump’s base he’s delivering on his campaign promises.

Tactical Raids or Media Spectacle?

The Reality TV-Style Coverage

  • Fox News had exclusive access to these operations and treated them like high stakes drama.
  • Conservative TV host Dr. Phil joined ICE agents in Chicago and interviewed detainees on camera.
  • Critics say this is designed to desensitize the public, turn human suffering into entertainment.

Raids Designed for Maximum Exposure

reporter, camera, journalist, media, news, microphone ultra europe, ultra music festival, croatia, reporter, reporter, reporter, reporter, reporter, journalist, journalist, journalist

Trump aligned media outlets and social media have been key to amplifying immigration enforcement. The federal government has played a significant role in this by using media and social media to highlight its aggressive enforcement tactics. Instead of doing operations quietly like previous administrations, Trump’s team is all about visibility. Here’s how:

1. Media Ride-Alongs and Exclusive Access

  • Pro-Trump networks like Fox News are embedding journalists with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) units.
  • Last week Fox correspondent Bill Melugin was given “exclusive access” to an ICE patrol in Boston where cameras captured agents arresting an undocumented migrant who yelled, “I’m not going back to Haiti! You feel me?”
  • Trump’s border czar Tom Homan later reinforced the administration’s stance saying, “He’s wrong. He’s going back to Haiti. I can tell him that.”* Immediately after taking office, Kristi Noem joined ICE agents on an early morning raid in New York City.
  • She posted real-time updates on X (formerly Twitter) wearing tactical gear, declaring the operation a success.
  • Government agencies like ICE, DEA and ATF put out coordinated press releases.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posts real-time updates on X, sharing videos and images from enforcement operations.
  • During a recent operation in the Bronx she went live, narrating like a reporter.
  • Within minutes her content was picked up by Fox News and went out to millions.

2. Celebrity Cameos

  • In a first, the Trump administration is incorporating celebrities into the enforcement narrative.
  • Dr. Phil McGraw, a TV personality who endorsed Trump in 2024, joined ICE agents in Chicago.
  • He livestreamed the operation on Merit TV, his own network and was even recognized by one of the detained individuals—a strange moment that Fox News later highlighted.
  • McGraw said, “Transparency is going to be important for people to understand what’s going on and what’s not going on.”

Tactical Messaging: The Politics of Fear and Showmanship

Trump’s approach is a big departure from previous administrations: he’s showing not telling. Past presidents enforced immigration policy through routine operations and press releases. Trump is using a visual strategy to influence public opinion.

1. “Show of Force” and Perception Management

  • Agents participating in these raids have been told to wear visible law enforcement gear so they’re visible.
  • This is what media outlets call a “show of force.”
  • Political analysts say this is for Trump’s base, to reinforce the image of a tough guy who’s cracking down on illegal immigration.

2. “The Worst First” Narrative

The administration and right-wing media are framing deportations as the removal of dangerous criminals. They emphasize the need for these individuals to face justice in relation to criminal charges, highlighting the tension between immigration enforcement and legal rights within the broader conversation of public safety and law enforcement initiatives.

Fox News and conservative social media highlight cases involving violent offenders.

But multiple studies have found no correlation between immigration and crime. Some research even says immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. born citizens.* The administration says these media-driven raids are about transparency.

Noem claims it reassures Americans that immigration laws are being enforced.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt redefined illegal presence as a crime.

3. Biden’s Immigration Approach

  • During Biden’s presidency right-wing media hyped immigration related crime.
  • Trump used that during his campaign, calling it “Biden migrant crime.”
  • Now that Trump is back in office Fox News and other conservative outlets are framing his immigration policies as a fix.

Public Reaction: A Nation Divided

The public response to Trump’s immigration raids is split, reflecting America’s deep partisan divide.

1. Right-Wing Cheer

  • Conservative social media influencers like @LibsOfTikTok are amplifying ICE stats and celebrating the removals.
  • X comments are relieved, many saying “America is enforcing its laws again.”

2. Left-Wing Outrage

  • On the other side critics are calling it inhumane, saying Trump is turning suffering into entertainment.
  • A post on Bluesky summed it up: “The reality show president is creating mini ‘reality shows’ to satisfy the voyeuristic interests of Americans.”
  • Many say Trump is prioritizing optics over actual immigration reform.
  • Advocacy groups like the New York Immigration Coalition are calling the raids a “publicity stunt.”
  • Activist Andrew Herrera says such actions push immigrant communities into the shadows.
  • Democratic Congressman Chuy Garcia says the admin is prioritizing optics over public safety.

ABC’s The View:  Trump is running a PR campaign

The hosts of ABC’s The View didn’t mince words on Monday, saying these are more of a “PR campaign” than an immigration strategy.

Strategy of Fear and Publicity

During the Hot Topics segment, moderator Whoopi Goldberg asked: Are these ICE raids what voters had in mind as a solution to immigration? Co-host Sara Haines quickly put it into perspective.

·        “The point here is that it’s a PR campaign,” Haines said.·        “It’s meant to scare people. That’s what they’re doing right now.”

·        She said the lack of transparency on deportations is a major concern.

Transparency and Racial Motivation

The conversation shifted to racial profiling and the legality of Trump’s actions.

·        Host Sunny Hostin called out Trump for circumventing the law by declaring a national emergency and using the military to enforce deportations.

·        “This isn’t just about immigration—it’s a weaponization of government power against a specific group of people,” Hostin said.

·        She pointed out that Trump’s declaration of immigration as a “foreign invasion” gives him broad executive powers to bypass normal checks and balances.

The Price of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

cost, board, finance, money, business, miscalculated, euro, dollar, trade, cost explosion, explosion, market, prices, market economy, writing, chalk, blackboard, write, slate, cost, cost, cost, cost, cost

Co-host Ana Navarro didn’t sugarcoat the cost of these raids.

·        She called out the hypocrisy: while Trump promises to cut government spending, these deportations are expensive.

·        “The point is cruelty. The point is fear. But it’s also very expensive.”

·        Navarro pointed out the cost disparity:

* A standard Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charter flight for deportation costs $8,500.

A military C-130 aircraft being used for these deportations costs $816,000 per flight.

·        “Each one of those planes is costing taxpayers over 100 times more than a standard charter flight—all for a publicity stunt,” Navarro said.

Trump’s Latino Voters

One of the most dramatic moments of the show came when Navarro talked about the impact of these raids on Latino Trump voters.

·        “I’ve seen some videos this weekend of Latinos who voted for Trump, now crying because their grandmothers and uncles are getting deported.”

·        She admitted to struggling to feel sympathy for those who supported Trump but are now suffering the consequences.

·        “I am having a very hard time mustering up any sympathy for those people,” she said bluntly.

Immigration Policy or Political Theater?

The View hosts agreed that Trump’s mass deportations serve two purposes: instilling fear in immigrant communities and providing the administration with a big media show. While immigration reform is a issue in the US, the question remains: *Is this really a solution or just political theater to appease Trump’s base?

Escalation of Immigration Enforcement

Mass Deportations and Military Involvement

  • Trump deployed multiple federal law enforcement agencies and military support for mass deportation efforts.
  • Officials promised “shock and awe” tactics, resulting in more workplace and residential raids.
  • Despite the hype, official arrest numbers are vague or unverified.

Legal Pathways Under Attack

  • Beyond deportations, the admin has restricted asylum access and legal immigration pathways.
  • Many arrested have no criminal record beyond immigration violations.
  • NBC reported that only half of those arrested in recent ICE operation had criminal histories.

A Shift in Strategy or a Political Stunt?

Noem said the arrests marked a new era of immigration enforcement but many of the actions taken were the same as previous admins. Critics argue that the difference

Deportation Records: Trump vs. Obama & Biden

Trump’s tough talk notwithstanding, his admin deported fewer migrants than Obama.

·        Obama (2009-2017): His admin had record high deportations, especially in early years.

·        Trump (2017-2021): Immigration enforcement was a big topic but actual deportations lagged behind Obama.

·        Biden (2021-2025): In fiscal year 2024, Biden’s admin had more removals than any single year under Trump.

These numbers show that while Trump’s policies are loud, they may not change the scale of enforcement beyond previous admins.

Targeting Democratic Strongholds

The choice of New York and Chicago for high-profile raids was no accident. Both are Democratic strongholds and have large immigrant populations.

·        Sanctuary City Policies: Both cities limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, making them frequent targets of Republican criticism.

·        Political Undercurrents: Trump’s focus on these cities may be as much about political posturing as actual enforcement.

Advocacy Groups Sound the Alarm

Immigrant rights groups slammed the public nature of the raids, saying they incite fear in immigrant communities.

·        Legal Aid’s Response: Deborah Lee, head of the immigration law unit at Legal Aid, said the admin’s goal is to intimidate migrants, not enforce law fairly.

·        Call to Action: Advocates urge New York’s leadership, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, to inform migrants of their legal rights and protections.

New York Officials Respond

City and state officials have given mixed responses to the arrests, balancing public safety with immigrant rights.

·        Governor Kathy Hochul: Said ICE arrests aren’t new but reiterated state’s opposition to fear-mongering tactics.

·        Mayor Eric Adams: Facing his own legal issues, Adams has been cautious, emphasizing cooperation with fed authorities when needed but not opposing Trump’s policies.

Impact on Immigrant Communities

Increased Fear and Anxiety

  • Immigrant families live in constant fear, like Arizona’s immigration crackdowns under Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
  • Advocates report increased distrust of law enforcement even among legal residents and citizens.
  • Families are developing new safety strategies—frequent check-ins and avoiding public spaces.

Political and Social Backlash

  • As public awareness of deportation tactics grows, resistance movements are forming.
  • Communities are organizing to support affected families, like past campaigns against Arpaio.
  • Experts warn Trump’s broad enforcement could alienate voters and have long-term political consequences.

Conclusion: More than Policy—Political Theater

Trump’s immigration enforcement is more than policy—it’s a highly produced political performance meant to be seen and felt.

As CNN’s Abby Phillip said, “President Trump is, of course, a television producer.” By using the media, social networks and celebrity endorsements, his admin makes sure immigration enforcement happens—and is broadcasted for the world to see.

The question remains: Is this a deterrent or just another episode of Trump’s reality show? Only time will tell.