Overview

• The one-minute video, posted Sept. 22 on DHS’s X, Facebook and Instagram accounts, intercuts ICE raid footage with Pokémon clips and the TV theme song under the caption “Gotta Catch ’Em All.”
• The clip ends with mock Pokémon trading cards labeling arrestees the “worst of the worst,” including examples named by DHS such as Nery Garcia Linares and Moises Lopez-Zapeda.
• CBP engaged the post with a dancing Pikachu GIF, and views on X surpassed 37 million by Tuesday as the video remained publicly available.
• Nintendo and The Pokémon Company had not commented as of the latest reports, and former Pokémon legal chief Don McGowan said he doubts the companies will pursue action.
• Advocates linked some footage to a raid criticized for warrant issues; DHS said no U.S. citizen was arrested and that brief detentions during the operation were for safety.