The mastermind behind a reality TV show in which immigrants compete for a chance to fast-track their path to U.S. citizenship has rejected comparisons to the Hunger Games.
Producer Rob Worsoff told NewsNation that the intention is not to create a situation resembling the “Hunger Games for migrants.”
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump‘s administration has effectively shut down asylum as it looks to remove millions of migrants without legal status as part of a hardline mass deportation policy. If the TV show proceeds, it would be one of the two new methods to obtain a U.S. citizenship under the administration.
Trump floated the idea of a “gold card” visa that cost $5 million to replace the EB-5 visa and fast track immigration into the U.S.
Trump rose to national prominence through his role as the host of the reality television show The Apprentice, which aired for 14 seasons and helped establish his public image before his entry into politics. A proposed new show, along with Amazon‘s reported $40 million licensing agreement for a documentary about first lady Melania Trump, suggests that media companies continue to explore opportunities to engage with figures in the Trump administration.
What To Know
Worsoff said that the series will be a “celebration of America in the most positive possible way.” He said contestants would already be part of the immigration system, but the competition would simply determine who receives expedited processing.
“All I’m offering is to jump to the front of the line,” he said.
Worsoff is best known for his work as a producer on the A&E reality series Duck Dynasty.
Worsoff said that he presented the concept to the Obama, Biden and Trump administrations, all of which expressed interest, though the project was never implemented.
The show is expected to open with 12 preselected contestants arriving at Ellis Island aboard The Citizen Ship, where they are welcomed by a celebrity host and presented with a personalized baseball glove.
From there, the contestants travel the country by train, stopping in different regions to compete in challenges based on classic American experiences, such as log balancing in Wisconsin, rocket building in Cape Canaveral, or working on a car assembly line in Detroit. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials may assist in vote tallying.
As the competition progresses, eliminated contestants would receive American-style consolation prizes like a million airline miles, a $10,000 Starbucks card or free gas for life. While no specific brands are officially attached to the project, Worsoff believes the show has broad commercial appeal and strong potential for corporate sponsorship.
Worsoff told NewsNation that the show would be produced “respectfully and safely.”
Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro criticized the idea during a May 17 appearance on MSNBC, calling the show’s premise “a sick idea.”
What People Are Saying
Producer Rob Worsoff told NewsNation: “We’re going to put a face to all these people who are on this journey and want nothing more than to be a part of this country, and we’re going to humanize them, and we’re going to celebrate them.”
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: “The reporting by the Daily Mail is completely false, and an affront to respectable journalism. Secretary Noem has not ‘backed’ or even reviewed the pitch of any scripted or reality show. The Department of Homeland Security receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operation to white-collar investigations by HSI.
“Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval. If the excuse for a reporter at the Daily Mail had even thought to ask, he would have learned the show in question is in the very beginning stages of that vetting process and has not received approval or denial by staff.”
Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro told MSNBC: “The idea that you would do a reality show and have people compete for citizenship, it’s just sick, a sick idea.”
What Happens Next
It is unlikely that the show will be picked up by a major network or streaming platform because of widespread criticism and ethical concerns surrounding the concept.
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