Illegal immigrants in the US have been warned by ICE to ‘avoid Santa’s naughty list’ in a bizarre AI-generated video depicting Father Christmas as an immigration officer.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is offering illegal migrants a $3,000 reward if they ‘self-deport’ before the end of the year.
The strange video, shared by ICE via X (formerly Twitter), shows Father Christmas with his long, white beard wearing his traditional Santa suit – but with a menacing twist.
Over the top of his uniform, AI Santa wears military-style fingerless gloves and a red bulletproof vest with ‘ICE’ emblazoned across the front.
He is seen checking the magazine pouches on the vest, while several other ICE agents behind him are checking their equipment.
A huge US flag hangs on the wall.
In the next clip Father Christmas, still in his tactical gear but this time wearing his hat, is seen handcuffing a man.
Lights flash on a number of police cars in the dark and a colleague faces the detainee.
The arrested man is then seen in custody filling out paperwork as Santa watches him before the video cuts to people boarding a plane with ‘ICE Air’ written on the side.
Father Christmas is holding a clipboard as passengers board the aircraft.
The screen goes black before the message ‘Merry Christmas’ is displayed.
In the post, ICE said: ‘AVOID ICE AIR AND SANTA’S NAUGHTY LIST!
‘Self-deport today with the CBP Home app, earn $3,000 and spend Christmas at home with loved ones.
‘Holiday incentive is valid through the end of 2025.’
The video, uploaded on December 22, has so far received more than 475,000 views.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the self-deportation stipend has been tripled as part of this Christmas push.
It said the payment would be given to illegal immigrants who sign up to leave the country by the end of the year.
The offer would include a free flight back to their home countries.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on Monday: ‘Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport.
‘If they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them and they will never return.’
The Trump administration in March launched a rebranded app called CBP Home to make it easier for people to self-deport.
The app, previously called CBP One, was used by the Biden administration to allow migrants to enter the US legally.
This isn’t the US government’s first use of AI-generated content to get its messages across.
In February, President Donald Trump shared a disturbing AI video in which Gaza was depicted as a tropical paradise instead of the war-torn city it has become over the past two years.
In the footage he is seen drinking cocktails by a pool with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
And in September, Trump deleted a video in which an AI version of himself promised to give Americans their own ‘cure-all bed’.
The AI-generated US President said: ‘They’re equipped with the most advanced technology in the world.
‘These facilities are safe, modern and designed to restore every citizen to full health and strength.’
The post was deleted soon after it was published.
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