WASHINGTON, USA — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed it is reviewing a controversial reality television proposal that would see immigrants compete in a game-show-style format for a chance to earn American citizenship.
The show, tentatively titled “The American,” is currently undergoing a preliminary vetting process by DHS, but has not yet received formal approval or denial, according to a department spokesperson.
The concept, which has drawn comparisons to competition-based reality shows like “The Biggest Loser,” is the brainchild of Canadian-born producer Rob Worsoff, whose credits include Duck Dynasty, The Millionaire Matchmaker, and The Biggest Loser.
Worsoff told CNN he has pitched the idea across multiple administrations since the Obama era and believes recent conversations with DHS under the current administration have made significant progress.
“I don’t know where they stand exactly now, but I feel like we’re trending in a good way,” Worsoff said in an interview on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Worsoff has framed the show as a “positive love letter to America,” pushing back against criticism that it trivializes the immigration process or “punches down” on vulnerable populations.
“There’s nobody who loses on this show,” he told CNN.
“They are all people who are likely to become future Americans… I am offering somebody the opportunity to jump to the front of the line and nobody else loses.”
According to a portion of the show’s pitch deck provided to CNN, “The American” would feature 12 contestants drawn from a diverse pool of backgrounds and professions.
Each episode would include a “heritage challenge,” an “elimination challenge,” a town-hall forum, and a final vote in which a local audience — such as residents of a U.S. state — would choose the contestant they believe most embodies American values.
Examples of the heritage challenges cited include a “gold rush” competition in San Francisco, a “pizza” challenge in New York, and a “NASA” challenge in Florida, all designed to highlight different elements of American culture and history.
“The people of Tennessee, let’s say, will get to vote on which one of our future Americans they would most like to represent the state,” Worsoff explained.
“Just like in a presidential election.”
While DHS has confirmed receipt of the pitch, department officials have been careful to clarify the scope of its involvement.
“DHS receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operation to white collar investigations by HSI,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CNN.
“Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.”
McLaughlin also pushed back on reports from the Daily Mail suggesting that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had backed or reviewed the project.
“Noem has not ‘backed’ or even reviewed the pitch of any scripted or reality show,” she said.
Critics of the idea argue that tying citizenship to a competitive entertainment format risks undermining the seriousness and dignity of the naturalisation process.
Immigration advocates have voiced concerns that the premise could be exploitative, placing vulnerable individuals in high-stress situations for public consumption.
Worsoff, however, maintains that the show is meant to humanise the immigration process and celebrate American identity.
“We’ll get to know their face and their story and we’ll love them,” he said. “Maybe they’ll get a job out of it, or maybe they’ll get other opportunities out of it.”
It remains unclear how DHS would legally or administratively facilitate citizenship through a televised competition.
As of now, the show remains in early development and has not been greenlit by any federal agency.
The proposal has sparked significant public debate, raising questions about ethics, immigration policy, and the evolving intersection between entertainment and governance in America.
