The Department of Homeland Security has pushed back on a report that claims that Secretary Kristi Noem is involved in talks for a reality TV show in which immigrants compete against each other for US citizenship.
According to The Daily Mail, Ms Noem has been involved in the development of a show, outlined in a 35-page pitch, in which participants would compete “for the honour of fast-tracking their way to American citizenship”.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged that “the show in question is in the very beginning stages of that vetting process and has not received approval or denial by staff”.
She went on to attack the journalistic credentials of the Mail reporter and said Ms Noem had not supported or even reviewed the pitch for the show.
“The Department of Homeland Security receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] border operation to white-collar investigations by HSI [Homeland Security Investigations]. Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process before denial or approval,” Ms McLaughlin said in a statement to The National.
The pitch, according to the Mail, comes from Rob Worsoff, a writer and producer known for reality Duck Dynasty and Millionaire Matchmaker.
The proposed series, called The American, would see contestants riding across the country on a train and competing in regionally specific “cultural” contests. During their travels, they will reportedly meet “interesting Americans” and learn about the history, culture and quirks of each region. The winner would be sworn in as a citizen on the steps of the US Capitol.
The concept of a reality show might appeal to Mr Trump, who was the host of the hit programme The Apprentice, in which participants competed in business-related challenges for a chance at winning a $250,000 contract to promote a Trump property.
The Trump administration has come under criticism for its treatment of immigrants to the US. ICE agents have been carrying out frequent raids on cities across the country, rounding up people believed to be illegal immigrants and holding them in detention centres. If believed to have committed a crime, they can also be transported to a holding centre in Guantanamo Bay or El Salvador's notorious Cecot mega prison.
It has also come under scrutiny for ordering immigration officials to detain and deport foreign students who participated in university campus protests against the war in Gaza.
But DHS says its policies are making the country safer, and the White House has claimed that illegal crossings along the border with Mexico are down 99 per cent since he took office.
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
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'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 3
Sadio Man 28'
Andrew Robertson 34'
Diogo Jota 88'
Arsenal 1
Lacazette 25'
Man of the match
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
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Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
