(UNITED STATES) Comedian Theo Von publicly rebuked the Department of Homeland Security for using a clip of him in an ICE deportation video without permission, escalating a dispute that touches on immigration messaging, political branding, and the use of creators’ content by government agencies. The 31-second clip, posted by DHS on September 23, 2025, appeared on X (formerly Twitter) during President Trump’s second term and sparked immediate pushback from Von, who said the edit misrepresented his views on immigration and asked that it be removed.
The short ICE deportation video opened with Von’s line, “Heard you got deported, dude — bye,” and then moved to claims that 2 million undocumented immigrants had been deported in the first 250 days of the new term. It also showed footage of deportations, included remarks by President Trump saying migrants were “not coming anymore,” and ended with the message “LEAVE NOW” over a plane taking off. The edit placed Von’s comment up front, positioning his voice as the entry point to the broader enforcement message.
Von reposted the video and addressed DHS directly, writing: “Yooo DHS i didnt 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. When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are alot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!” He added that the line used in the clip came from a personal video recorded for a fan, not a political statement. As of September 24, 2025, DHS had not publicly responded to his objections.
How DHS’s use of Von’s line set off a larger debate
The agency’s decision to open the ICE deportation video with Von’s voice linked a well-known entertainer to an enforcement frame that carries heavy political weight. Von’s response made two points clear: he did not approve the use of his clip, and he believes the edit oversimplified his beliefs on immigration. He stated his position is more complex than the post suggests.
Key details from the dispute:
– Von did not give permission and asked DHS to remove the video.
– He said his views on immigration are more complex than the clip shows.
– He recorded the original message for a fan, not for political use.
– DHS had not issued a public reply to Von’s objection by September 24, 2025.
– Von has a public history with President Trump, including past support, but has also voiced criticism on immigration and other issues.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the incident underscores how fast official messaging can collide with a creator’s brand, especially when a line is lifted from a different setting and reused in a political context. A casual remark from a personal video was repurposed to lead a national enforcement message — a subject many view as among the most sensitive in American public life.
Public figures often keep careful control of their image, especially when politics are involved. When that image appears in a government video, the stakes can be high.
While Von’s tone stayed sharp and direct, he focused on his core objection: he wanted the video taken down and said the edit did not reflect the depth of his thinking on immigration.
Stakes for immigration messaging and public figures
The episode highlights the power of short social videos to carry strong signals about immigration, particularly when they feature familiar voices. The opening line from Theo Von made the clip easy to share, but it also tied a specific personality to an official deportation narrative that he says he didn’t endorse. That tension — between reach and consent — sits at the center of this dispute.
The ICE deportation video came amid ongoing debate about enforcement and border policy in the United States 🇺🇸. The post’s claim that 2 million people were deported in the first 250 days of President Trump’s second term framed the clip as proof of scale and speed, with images of removals and an all-caps end card telling people to “LEAVE NOW.” Von’s rejection emphasized that one line from a personal message cannot stand in for a full position on migration, families, or the day-to-day impact of removals.
Von’s remarks also reflect a broader reality: immigration policy touches real lives, often in painful ways. People separated from loved ones, employers worried about workforce stability, and communities trying to plan for the future all watch these videos closely. When a well-known comedian says his “heart” is more complex than a punchy edit allows, it points to the human side of immigration debates that can get lost in fast-moving social media posts.
Timeline and official resources
The timeline is straightforward:
1. September 23, 2025 — DHS posted the 31-second ICE deportation video featuring Von’s line.
2. Von reposted the clip and publicly objected, asking for it to be removed.
3. September 24, 2025 — As of this date, DHS had not issued a public reply.
For readers seeking official materials on how the department communicates about enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security maintains public resources and updates at the main agency site: Department of Homeland Security. While the page does not speak to this specific video, it is the official source for policy updates, press materials, and background on immigration enforcement.
Context: Von’s relationship with Trump and why he distanced himself
Von’s relationship with President Trump adds another layer. He previously welcomed him on his podcast and attended related events. At the same time, he has criticized the administration on several issues, including immigration. That mixed record may explain why he moved quickly to distance himself from the video’s framing.
Public reaction often hinges on two questions:
– Consent: Did the creator approve the use? In this case, Von says he did not.
– Context: Does the clip capture the creator’s broader views? Von says it does not.
Those two points form the backbone of his challenge to DHS.
Final note on tone and impact
The closing image of the ICE deportation video — a plane taking off with the words “LEAVE NOW” — pushed the tone from informational to forceful. The kick-off line from Theo Von gave the clip an attention-grabbing start. Put together, the post was designed to move fast across feeds. Von’s pushback slowed that momentum by forcing a new conversation about how agencies use celebrity clips, and what happens when the person in that clip wants out.
As of the last stated date, the department had not given a public response to Von’s request. The core facts remain:
– The video was posted;
– Theo Von objects;
– He asked DHS to take it down;
– He says his views on immigration are more complex than a 31-second edit can show.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 23, 2025 the Department of Homeland Security posted a 31-second ICE deportation video on X that began with comedian Theo Von’s line. Von publicly objected the following day, saying he never approved the clip — originally recorded for a fan — and urging DHS to remove it. The video claimed 2 million deportations in the first 250 days of the president’s new term and ended with an emphatic “LEAVE NOW” over footage of a plane. DHS had not publicly replied by September 24, 2025. The incident spotlights tensions around consent, political branding, and the ethical reuse of creators’ content in governmental messaging.
