DHS unveils ad campaign warning ‘criminal’ migrants ‘not welcome’

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled a multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning immigrants in the U.S. illegally to either self-deport or risk being deported and not being allowed to come back again. 

The DHS said Monday that two versions of the ad will run on a variety of platforms. One will run domestically, the other will run internationally. 

“If you leave, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream. But understand this: Under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers. Follow the law, and you’ll find opportunity. Break it, and you’ll find consequences,” Noem said in the domestic minutelong ad. 

“If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally: Don’t even think about it. If you come here and break our laws, we will hunt you down. Criminals are not welcome in the United States,” Noem stated. 

She said in the international version of the ad that if immigrants “try to enter illegally, you will be caught. You will be removed and you will never return.” 

The various ads will run on digital, broadcast and radio platforms in multiple countries and regions, according to DHS. The ads will be broadcast in “various dialects” and will be “hyper-targeted” through text, digital and social media to reach immigrants already living inside the U.S. illegally, as well as those in other countries who may be headed here, the department added. 

The Biden administration ran radio ads in South America attempting to discourage people from coming to the U.S. 

President Trump has sought to crack down on illegal immigration, looking to slash the number of crossings at the southern border and following through with deportations, particularly of immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. 

Trump’s border czar said Monday that the number of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped from thousands a day during Biden’s term to a total of 229 in the previous 24 hours.