Homeland Security Uses Pokémon Imagery in Video; Company Denies Involvement

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted a video on social media on September 22, 2025, that used imagery, music, and slogans from the Pokémon franchise to highlight the arrests of immigrants. According to Anime News Network and other outlets, the video, captioned "Gotta Catch 'Em All," interspersed clips from the animated Pokémon television show with footage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests. The video, which received tens of millions of views, concluded by displaying mugshots of arrested individuals formatted as Pokémon-style trading cards.

indiatimes.com reported, In a statement published on September 24, The Pokémon Company clarified its position on the matter. The company stated, "Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property." The video was part of a series of social media posts by the DHS that used pop culture references to promote its immigration enforcement activities. The Pokémon Company did not state whether it would pursue legal action.