The Department of Homeland Security is raising eyebrows after using Pokémon imagery to showcase recent immigration arrests.
On Monday (Sept. 22), the DHS shared a controversial video on social media along with the phrase “Gotta Catch ‘Em All,” a slogan used from the beloved anime series, to accompany footage of raids and apprehensions.
The video mixes clips from immigration enforcement actions with scenes from the Pokémon series intro.
The DHS also uploaded mugshots of individuals on cards resembling Pokémon trading cards for reported crimes such as homicide, child endangerment and molestation, and manslaugther.
Complex has reached out to representatives of The Pokémon Company for comment. This story may be updated.
Also on Monday, Rep. Maxine Waters denounced the Trump administration’s immigration raids as a form of “ethnic cleansing” and joined a coalition of U.S. and civil rights advocates in petitioning the United Nations to investigate the federal government for potential human rights violations, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“When people are targeted because of how they look or the language they speak, the government is absolutely failing,” said Waters. “We cannot rely upon the administration to police itself.”
The petition, filed by civil rights attorney Luis Carrillo, was submitted partly on behalf of four U.S. citizens, including a pregnant woman who was allegedly shackled and dragged by federal agents. It accuses agencies such as ICE, DHS, Border Patrol, and the FBI of orchestrating a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Latino communities through “kidnapping arrests, prolonged detentions without due process of law and the brutal excessive use of force.”
DHS officials also lashed out at California governor Gavin Newsom for signing Senate Bill 627, also known as the “No Secret Police Act,” which bans ICE agents from wearing face-covering masks during operations.
“When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists,” said the DHS in a statement per KRON 4. “Our officers also wear vests marked with ICE/ERO or Homeland Security.”
The department also said that ICE would continue removing “violent criminal illegal aliens” from California despite the state’s actions.
In a statement to Complex, The Pokémon Company International acknowledged the existence of the video, and denied any involvement.
“We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand," the company said. "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.”