The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reviewing a proposal for a reality television show in which immigrants would compete for American citizenship, the agency confirmed Friday.
In a statement, DHS said the pitch “has not received approval or rejection by staff,” and emphasized that all proposals undergo thorough vetting.
“We need to revive patriotism and civic duty in this country, and we’re happy to review out-of-the-box pitches,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the show was pitched by Rob Worsoff, a Canadian American, and would feature hour-long episodes in which contestants take on tasks that highlight American history and values — such as a gold rush mining challenge or assembling a Model T chassis.
The competition would begin at Ellis Island and eliminate one contestant per episode. Worsoff insists it’s not a dystopian contest for survival:
“This isn’t The Hunger Games for immigrants,” he said. “It’s not, ‘Lose and get deported.’”
The proposal has stirred debate, especially given the broader context of U.S. immigration policy under President Donald Trump, a former reality TV star himself. His administration has pushed to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela, and has ramped up deportations and enforcement.
TPS offers legal protection to immigrants from countries affected by conflict or disaster — protections Trump has moved to roll back in line with a broader immigration crackdown led by DHS.
No decision has yet been made on whether the show will be greenlit.
