Commentary: Dean Cain Recruits Immigration Agents, 'South Park' Follows Suit with DHS Support

Dean Cain’s Unexpected Shift from Superhero to Immigration Enforcement Advocate

Dean Cain, best known for playing Superman in the 1990s TV series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” has taken a surprising turn in his career. Recently, he encouraged his Instagram followers to apply for jobs with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. In a video, Cain shared the opportunity, highlighting the benefits and pay associated with working for ICE.

“Here’s your opportunity to join ICE,” he said, emphasizing that since President Trump took office, the agency has arrested hundreds of thousands of criminals, including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, and drug traffickers. However, this claim contrasts with nonpublic data from ICE, which reveal that the majority of those detained have no criminal convictions. According to recent figures, 65% of the 200,000 people detained by ICE since October 2024 have never committed a crime, and 93% haven’t committed a violent crime.

Cain is not the only actor from a popular TV series to support ICE recruitment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used an image from a “South Park” teaser for its upcoming episode titled “Got a Nut.” The image depicted masked men in black cars marked “ICE,” and DHS captioned it with “Join.Ice.Gov.” This move sparked immediate reactions from the show’s creators.

The previous episode of “South Park,” titled “Sermon on the Mount,” was a sharp critique of the president’s character and legal actions. Despite Trump calling the show “irrelevant,” it became one of the most-watched seasons in years. Viewership increased by 68% compared to the previous season, and the episode reached nearly 6 million viewers across Paramount+ and Comedy Central platforms within three days of its release.

A 20-second teaser for the upcoming “Got a Nut” episode shows Trump at a dinner event with Satan. As Trump’s courage is praised by an off-screen speaker, he rubs Satan’s leg under the table. When Satan tells him to stop, even the devil appears disgusted. The episode seems to focus on the absurdity of the administration’s public call to arms, particularly regarding ICE recruitment.

In the teaser, Mr. Mackey, the often-misguided former school counselor, is shown in an ICE vest, looking out of place. He stands near a depiction of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who is seen pointing a pistol in the air while wearing ICE gear. “South Park” responded to the DHS’s use of the image with a tweet asking, “Wait, so we ARE relevant?” followed by a hashtag that couldn’t be printed here.

Satire surrounding the Trump administration's immigration policies has intensified following the ICE hiring campaign, which offers a $50,000 signing bonus and retirement benefits. Noem emphasized the importance of the mission, stating, “Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country.”

Cain, now 59, took to social media to share his experience as a sworn law enforcement officer and filmmaker. “I felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans,” he said. A follower pointed out that ICE has an age cap of 37, even for licensed law enforcement officers. Cain replied, “Perhaps we’ll get the changed…”

Hours later, Noem announced that the hiring age cap had been eliminated during an appearance on Fox News. This change allowed both young and old individuals to join ICE, extending the reach of the agency’s mission.

This story highlights the complex intersection of pop culture, politics, and immigration policy, showcasing how even former superheroes can become advocates for controversial government initiatives.