Pokémon Company International has formally responded to the use of its brand by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the Japanese gaming firm distancing itself from a video showing immigration raids.
The video, posted on the DHS’ official X account and the White House’s TikTok handle, shows a montage of raids conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents alongside Pokémon’s slogan “Gotta catch ’em all.”
It also used the Pokémon animated series’ theme song and several clips of its protagonist, Ash Ketchum.
Photos of fake Pokémon trading cards showing the names of individuals arrested by ICE, their mugshots with the background of the country they are from and their alleged crimes were then flashed at the end of the video.
Nintendo urged to take legal action
DHS’ video drew outrage online, with netizens slamming the “dehumanising” portrayal of the individuals featured in the video.
Some also called for Pokémon and franchise owner Nintendo to pursue legal action over the use of its intellectual property.
The company responded in an official statement, saying that: “We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand.”
“Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property,” it added.
Pokémon did not say if it will pursue legal action against the DHS.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ back on late-night TV after brief suspension
“Memeifying immigration crackdowns”
The DHS’ usage of the Pokémon brand is not the first time the US government has tried to “memeify” its immigration crackdown via propaganda videos.
In July, the White House posted a video showing handcuffed individuals being escorted on a flight out of the US using the viral “Jet2 holiday” advert featuring British singer Jess Glynne’s song “Hold My Hand”.
In an Instagram story, Glynne slammed the use of her song for the deportation video.
“This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate,” she said.
Zoe Lister, the advertisement’s voiceover actress, also told the BBC that she would “never condone my voiceover being used to promote… Trump and his abhorrent policies.”
Last August, the DHS used rapper Jay-Z’s 2003 track “Public Service Announcement” in an ICE recruitment video showing agents training, breaking down doors and conducting raids while urging people to “Hunt Cartels. Save America.”
The original tweet is still up, but the video was disabled “in response to a report by the copyright owner.”
On Instagram and Facebook, the video is still available, but the audio is no longer available.
Recently, stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster Theo Von also demanded that the DHS remove a social media clip using a viral video of him saying, “Heard you got deported, dude, bye!”
“Yooo DHS, I didn’t approve to be used in this. I know you know my address, so send a check. And please take this down and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos,” Von said in his X account.
“When it comes to immigration, my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!”
Shortly after, the DHS removed the video from its accounts.
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, the DHS and ICE have been intensifying raids across the US following his migration policy to conduct the “largest deportation programme of criminals in the history of America.”
READ NEXT: Science news: Lab-grown teeth close to becoming a reality
Carmela Calling 
Wendellyn Mateo 
Adam Peaker