An internal memo from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), obtained by the Daily Mail, contradicts Secretary Kristi Noem's public denial of involvement in a proposed reality show that would allow pre-vetted immigrants to compete for expedited U.S. citizenship.
"DailyMail.com stands by its reporting and can now reveal that it has seen DHS HQ internal communications showing not only was Noem aware of the proposal by a Duck Dynasty producer, but she also endorsed it," said the news site in a lengthy post on Tuesday, adding that Noem's top aides, Corey Lewandowski and Tricia McLaughlin, were also involved and expressed support for the proposal.
The site also provided a chronology of the events behind the leaked reality show pitch:
"After being contacted last Thursday for comment, DHS officials immediately went into damage control, apparently concerned about the optics of turning the plight of immigrants into a game show. McLaughlin insisted that Noem had yet to be briefed on the initiative, even as she acknowledged that agency staff had a call with the producer a week earlier. 'I think it's a good idea,' she initially told DailyMail.com"
DHS, however, dismissed the report on its official website under the banner "FAKE NEWS FRIDAY." Noem doubled down on the allegations at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, telling Senator Richard Blumenthal: "Sir, we have no knowledge of a reality show... I did not know anything about this reality show until the reporter reached out."
Despite Noem's denial, Worsoff has publicly defended the show's concept. Speaking to NewsNation this past weekend, he said the idea is meant to "celebrate America in the most positive possible way" and emphasized that all contestants would already be within the legal immigration process. "This is not Hunger Games for migrants," he said.
Worsoff also added that versions of the proposal had been pitched to the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations but failed to advance. The show's concept has sparked backlash, with critics, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, calling it "a sick idea."
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