ICE Posts Christmas-Themed AI Video Featuring Santa Claus as a Federal Agent: 'Avoid Santa's Naughty List'

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released an AI-generated Christmas-themed video portraying Santa Claus as a federal immigration agent, urging undocumented immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily or face enforcement action.

The video shows a depiction of Santa Claus wearing a red suit, white beard and a bulletproof vest marked with an ICE logo, carrying weapons and participating in immigration enforcement activities.

In the clip, the character is seen detaining migrants on a street, processing an individual at an immigration facility and escorting someone onto a plane for deportation. The message encourages undocumented immigrants to "avoid Santa's naughty list" by using the CBP Home app to self-deport.

A caption accompanying the video states that participants who leave voluntarily through the program will receive $3,000 and a free flight to their home country. The Department of Homeland Security said the incentive, which was tripled for the holiday period, is available until the end of 2025 and is aimed at promoting voluntary departures as an alternative to arrest, detention and removal.

The video follows a series of holiday-themed social media posts by DHS and ICE tied to the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Earlier this month, the department shared images of immigration agents wearing Santa hats and holiday decorations under the slogan "YOU'RE GOING HO HO HOME," including one image showing an armed agent and another holding a ballistic shield decorated with lights and the words "Merry Christmas."

DHS also posted a GIF of President Donald Trump superimposed onto Santa's sleigh:

The holiday messaging coincides with an enforcement push DHS has framed as a "Christmas gift to Americans." Last week, the department said ICE had arrested undocumented immigrants with criminal records across the country, describing the targets as some of the "worst of the worst."

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the arrests included individuals convicted of burglary, robbery and kidnapping, adding that ICE was working "to ensure silent nights and safer streets."

The use of Christmas imagery has drawn criticism from immigrant advocates and religious groups. Jeremy Weitz of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network told Axios that it was "deeply troubling" to pair AI-generated images and holiday messaging with immigration enforcement while former DHS official Andrea Flores questioned the department's focus on memes rather than policy information.