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4w ago

White House Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Cartoon Mocking Migrant's Arrest

The administration's use of a Studio Ghibli-style meme to depict a detained Dominican migrant has drawn widespread criticism for its perceived cruelty and unprofessional tone.

Virginia Basora-Gonzalez was arrested in Philadelphia by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for illegally reentering the U.S. Basora-Gonzalez was seen crying as she was taken into custody.
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Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a convicted drug dealer, was nabbed by ICE after she entered the USA illegally.
President Donald J Trump speaks to reporters about auto tariffs after signing an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • The White House posted an AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style cartoon depicting the arrest of Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a previously deported felon convicted of fentanyl trafficking.
  • The cartoon, shared on the White House's official social media account, mocked Basora-Gonzalez's emotional reaction to her arrest, stating 'She wept when taken into custody.'
  • Social media users widely criticized the post as dehumanizing and unprofessional, with many expressing outrage at its tone and content.
  • Basora-Gonzalez was arrested by ICE on March 12 outside her workplace in Philadelphia after reentering the U.S. illegally; ICE defended the arrest as part of its public safety mission.
  • The White House's use of AI-generated imagery aligns with its broader pattern of leveraging internet trends for controversial immigration enforcement messaging.