The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun running YouTube ads in the Los Angeles area and other regions warning undocumented immigrants of arrest and deportation.
According to the DHS, the campaign is designed to be “hyper-targeted,” tailoring ad distribution based on regional characteristics to reach communities with large immigrant populations.
Secretary Noem warns in high-viewership ad campaign
The ads, produced by the DHS, feature Secretary Kristi Noem delivering a direct message. A 1-minute version was published on YouTube, while 30-second versions were made for TV and radio.
In the video, Noem says, “President Trump is strengthening our borders and putting America first. If you are staying in the U.S. illegally, we will find you and deport you.”
She adds at the end, “If you’re deported, you may never return. But if you leave voluntarily now, you could earn a future opportunity to return and pursue the American dream.”
As of late May 2025, the video, uploaded to the DHS YouTube channel in April, has surpassed 50 million views.
Daniel Kim, a resident of Koreatown, commented, “I’ve been seeing more ads from the Department of Homeland Security warning about arresting undocumented immigrants. It seems like they’re focusing on areas with large Korean American and immigrant populations.”
YouTube offers advertisers ZIP code-level targeting, allowing the DHS to concentrate its campaign in specific communities.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
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