(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a multi-million-dollar ad campaign telling foreign nationals illegally living in the U.S. to “leave now” or be deported and never be able to return.
The ads are being aired nationwide and internationally on radio, broadcast and digital platforms. They are running in specific geographic regions in the U.S. and in multiple countries in various dialects. They are also running across social media platforms, being sent in text messages and through other digital platforms, DHS says.
In a domestic ad, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says:
“President Trump has a clear message for those that are in our country illegally: leave now.
“If you don’t, we will find you and we will deport you. You will never return.
“For too long, weak politicians left our borders wide open. They flooded our communities with human trafficking and violent criminals. They put American lives at risk.
“Well, those days are over. If you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream. But understand this: under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.
“Follow the law and you’ll find opportunity. Break it and you’ll find consequences. The choice is yours. America welcomes those who respect our laws because a strong nation is a safe nation.”
The ad includes images of mugshots of criminal illegal foreign nationals, images of hundreds of people illegally crossing the Rio Grande River into the U.S., trampling razor wire and climbing over barriers, images of flashing police lights and the U.S. border wall.
In an international ad, Noem says:
“I have a message from President Trump to the world: if you are considering entering America illegally, don’t even think about it.
“Let me be clear: if you come to our country and you break our laws, we will hunt you down. Criminals are not welcome in the United States.”
“Under President Trump, we are defending American families and restoring their safety. If you try to enter illegally, you will be caught, you will be removed, and you will never return.”
The ads are running after an aggressive deportation process has begun and illegal border crossings plummeted in Trump’s first month in office.
In just the first 10 days of his presidency, apprehensions dropped by 85% between ports of entry at the southwest border, and the number of inadmissible illegal border crossers arriving at ports of entry dropped 93%, The Center Square reported.
ICE agents are pursuing some of the most violent offenders from coast to coast. In Seattle, they thwarted a Mexican human smuggling operation out of Canada and apprehended public safety threats from China and Khazakhstan, The Center Square reported.
In Boston, they are continuing to arrest violent illegal border crossers, including violent gang members, sex offenders, murderers and fugitives wanted in their home countries, The Center Square reported.
In Texas, they’re continuing to arrest violent gang and cartel members and felons. Recent arrests include a Gulf Cartel member and leader of a sicario cell, and Tren de Aragua gang members, including a suspected shooter in an attempted murder investigation in San Antonio, The Center Square reported. Others arrested include Mexican drug traffickers convicted of aggravated assault, confirmed MS-13 gang members convicted of felony fraud and felony weapons charges, and multiple offenders who’ve previously been deported.
DHS and ICE efforts are carrying out numerous executive orders Trump issued on his first day in office to secure the border after he declared a national emergency and invasion, The Center Square reported.