TV trials for US passport? Homeland security chief supports immigration-themed competition show

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is supporting a proposed reality television show that would see immigrants competing in a series of challenges for a fast-tracked path to US citizenship.

Dubbed The American, the show was pitched by television producer Rob Worsoff, known for his work on Duck Dynasty and Millionaire Matchmaker, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The 35-page proposal, developed in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), outlines a televised competition where pre-vetted immigrants would travel the US aboard a train named The American, taking part in regionally themed contests such as log rolling in Wisconsin and gold mining in San Francisco.

The winner would be sworn in as a US citizen on the steps of the Capitol.

“Along the way, we will be reminded what it means to be American – through the eyes of the people who want it most,” the pitch reads.

Despite DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating that Noem has not yet been officially briefed, DailyMail.com confirms the Secretary is enthusiastic about the project. “I think it's a good idea,” McLaughlin added.

Worsoff, himself an immigrant from Canada, emphasized his apolitical intentions. “I’m not affiliated with any political ideology. As an immigrant myself, I am merely trying to make a show that celebrates the immigration process… through the eyes of the people who want it most,” he said.

Contestants would arrive at Ellis Island aboard “The Citizen Ship” and be welcomed by a naturalized celebrity host such as Sofia Vergara, Ryan Reynolds, or Mila Kunis, each receiving a personalized baseball glove.

While Noem views the project as a celebration of American identity, some DHS officials express concern over the optics. “When will Secretary Noem stop prioritizing staged photo ops and media stunts?” one internal source asked, criticizing the initiative as undermining President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

Still, Noem and DHS have reportedly been courting streaming platforms like Netflix to greenlight the show, which Worsoff believes could be a commercial success with “enormous corporate sponsorship opportunities.”

By Vafa Guliyeva