Homeland Security Takes to Reels to Counter Fake News
The reporting on ICE operations has become so distorted, so aggressively misleading, that Homeland Security has taken an unprecedented step — going directly to the public through short-form social media videos. On platforms like Reels, the agency now posts pointed, fact-driven rebuttals to widely circulated false claims. These clips, featuring Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Director Lauren Biss, call out some of the most egregious examples of misinformation with a clarity and directness rarely seen from federal agencies.
The format itself says a great deal. With its brisk pacing, crisp editing, and a young, energetic spokesperson, the series is clearly designed to reach viewers under 50. It is a savvy adaptation to the modern media environment, where traditional news outlets no longer control the narrative and where misinformation spreads faster than official statements can keep up. By embracing social platform storytelling, Homeland Security is meeting the public where they actually consume information—and doing so with surprising effectiveness.
Each segment runs for about five minutes and tackles one to three high-profile claims made by reporters, politicians, or citizens. The tone is calm but firm, and the evidence presented ranges from compelling to downright shocking. In an era where accusations against ICE agents often go viral before facts are verified, these videos serve as a counterweight—one that is long overdue.
One of the most striking examples involves California Governor Gavin Newsom’s claim that ICE agents had zip‑cuffed children. Newsom circulated a photo of a young girl being restrained by what appeared to be a law enforcement officer. The implication was clear—and inflammatory. But as Biss explains, the image had nothing to do with ICE or Border Patrol. It was a family prank. The “officer” was the girl’s father, posing for a joke photo that was later misappropriated online. There is no evidence whatsoever that ICE or Border Patrol agents are zip‑cuffing children. Yet the claim spread widely, amplified by officials and media outlets that failed to verify its authenticity.
Other segments expose similar distortions. In several cases, reporters described detained individuals as innocent victims targeted without cause. But when Biss walks through the actual arrest records of the individuals, the truth is starkly different. The individuals in question often had extensive criminal histories—offenses including sexual assault, robbery, violent attacks, and even attempted murder. These are not harmless bystanders swept up in random enforcement actions. They are individuals with serious, documented criminal backgrounds who are in America illegally. The contrast between the media narrative and the factual record is jarring.
After watching multiple installments, a pattern emerges. Certain political figures appear repeatedly in these corrections, suggesting a consistent tendency to misrepresent ICE and Border Patrol activities. Governors Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Tim Walz of Minnesota show up frequently in the series—often for claims that collapse under even minimal scrutiny. Whether these misstatements stem from political opportunism, poor staff research, or simple carelessness, the result is the same. The public receives a distorted picture of federal law enforcement operations.
Homeland Security’s decision to launch its own fact‑checking platform is a sign of how dramatically the information landscape has shifted. Agencies can no longer rely on traditional media to convey accurate accounts of their work. Instead, they must communicate directly, quickly, and visually. And in this case, the strategy appears to be working. The Reels segments are concise, accessible, and grounded in verifiable evidence—qualities that stand in stark contrast to the sensationalized narratives they rebut.
In a media environment saturated with spin, these videos offer something increasingly rare. A straightforward presentation of facts. Whether they will change minds is another question. But at the very least, they ensure that the public has access to the truth—unfiltered, unembellished, and on the record.
So, there ‘tis.
Larry,
ICE and DHS has been pushing propaganda tapes from the very beginning; you might even say these surges are made-for-TV. Trump’s famous saying: “makes for great TV” is legendary.
Trump administration already re-wrote history with it’s 1/6/2021 website. Why not continue.
I hear “Wag the Dog” is a required training tool for the entire administration. Welcome to 2025, and beyond.
Oh look, its Frank and his distortions again. So Frank, how about something on the Left wing media lies? You didn’t even touch the zip tied kids, did you? Hmm.
And the “Wag the Dog” remark pretty much sums up your stance, eh? Where did you hear it? Or did you make that up? Petty.
Newsom, zip tied kid, ca? Wasn’t this a fabrication from Chicago? Or a Texas police dad joke? I cannot find Newsom saying this OR an example from CA.
I do find many abuses of minors from ICE across America though. In my state, a few days ago, they hauled some guy away leaving his 6-year old alone. That’s not right, child services was supposed to be called. At least that’s what professional police do.
The ICE patriots don’t need idiots from the democrat asswipe party telling them what to do. By the way,Dunger, I checked out your story. A total lie. No. I take that back. A DAMNED lie!!!
Pauldungoff: which story? Got proof or just musing?
The story about minor abuse All lies.
Pauldungoff: OK, you call me a liar on minor abuse; yet you provide zero evidence or proof, just your word which seems to be dung. You seem to like dung.
First, I said “Newsom, zip tied kid, ca? Wasn’t this a fabrication from Chicago? Or a Texas police dad joke? I cannot find Newsom saying this OR an example from CA.” I cannot prove a negative, as in something that I cannot find. You need evidence or proof that he did say it, in which case you really still can’t call me a liar, but you can prove Larry isn’t (not that I said he was). Balls in your court wise-guy. Do you need sources on the fabrications from TX or Chicago? Do you have sources for the CA/Newsom connection that I cannot find?
Second, I said: “In my state, a few days ago, they hauled some guy away leaving his 6-year old alone. That’s not right, child services was supposed to be called. At least that’s what professional police do.” I did not provide a link or source and you said it’s a lie, again, no evidence, just your allegation.
The story appeared in NJ.Com, our local online rag. Picked up nationally, you missed it. The title: “6-year-old girl left alone after ICE grabs N.J. dad picking up dinner outside his apartment. ‘Where’s papi?” *https://www.nj.com/morris/2026/01/6-year-old-left-alone-after-ice-snatches-dad-picking-up-dinner-outside-his-door-wheres-papi-calavia-robertson.html* There are plenty of other accounts if you need more sources.
During the Chicago military assault type raid, there were accounts of minor abuse, basically for show: “They just treated us like we were nothing,” Pertissue Fisher, a U.S. citizen who lives in the apartment building, told ABC7 Chicago in an interview soon after the raid. She said she was then handcuffed, held for hours, and released around 3 a.m. This was the first time she said a gun was ever put in her face. Neighbor Eboni Watson, who witnessed the raid, also told the ABC station that the children were zip-tied—some of them were without clothes—when they were taken out of the residential building by federal agents. “Where’s the morality?” Watson said she kept asking during the raid.” These accounts were corroborated many times over as agents put people in vans, as holding areas, and it took hours for them to clear the vans as the cameras rolled for DHS effects. ICE would not comment to TIME: *https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump/*
One of the most telling accounts is from the FBI who denied children being zip-tied and then the FBI, on the record, restated their denial saying “ no YOUNG kids were zip tied. The FBI said they were zip tying minors. A definition without a distinction proving they ARE zip tying minors. If they can lie about this one, what else don’t we know? *https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/10/22/fbi-backtracks-on-denying-children-were-zip-tied-in-idaho-raid-saying-instead-no-young-kids-were/*
Here’s a story of 100 kids separated from parents titled: “37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments.” *https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/03/us/chicago-apartment-ice-raid?cid=ios_app*
Paul, I applaud you for trying, accept any apology that you can’t give, because you are a lesser bigger man, and, better luck next time.
Larry, Anyone that believes the ICE propaganda reels is really a fool. Krusty Gnome lies as effortlessly as her boss (take Minneapolis for instance where she said Good was trying to run over Ross-nope). And then there were the lies that we couldn’t get prisoners out of Secot? And the poor guy in SoCal that was shot in the eye with ‘less than lethal ammunition’ and ICE spokesman said rocks, fireworks were being thrown-contradicted by LA PD who said traffic cones were the only things thrown. The list goes on, but I don’t have time for your ignorance tonight. ICE is out of control because the people at the top (and the officers themselves) are lying to protect their asses. Why am I not surprised that an idiot like yourself approves of their propaganda reels?
ICE isn’t out of control you fool. It’s assholes constantly trying to harrass and harm the ICE patriots. You lefties cry about Jan 6 but attacks on law enforcement and border patrol has greatly surpassed that day when true patriots tried to stop the steal. So Mike f as in fag , don’t you forget it. The same thing goes for Dunger.
Willieatsdung, and likes it. YOU SHOW US ICE injuries surpassing what the 140+ cops got on 1.6.2021. YOU SHOW US the pardoned ICE assaulters as the entire 1.6.2021 convicts were let off the hook. Many already back in jail for heinous crimes. Other convicts of that day have great government jobs with team Trump. Can you imagine a cop beating asshole given a six-figure job at DOJ to screw us over? That’s Trumpy for you.
While assaults on ICE are rising; the 1,000% increase is yet another like from No-one-home-Noem. And the results are so minor that 2025 is the safest year for ICE since 2000. *https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-01/dhs-1000-percent-increase-attacks-on-ice-agents-times-analysis*
Cato is a right-leaning research house who stated: “2025 Was the 2nd Safest Year for Border Patrol and ICE Agents.”
“The chance of an ICE or Border Patrol agent being murdered in the line of duty is about one in 94,549 per year, about 5.5 times less likely than a civilian being murdered.”
“Border Patrol and ICE agents are rarely the victims of deadly violence because illegal immigrants are much less likely to commit murder and other crimes than native-born Americans. Convictions and arrest data from Texas, incarceration data from Oklahoma, Georgia, and nationwide, victimization survey data, and recent ICE arrest data of illegal immigrants confirm this.”
*https://www.cato.org/blog/2025-was-2nd-safest-year-border-patrol-ice-agents*
Your administration, especially Noem, Bondi, and Leavitt, lies through their teeth. Multiple times on the record. They offer xero transparency, do not tell us their plans, and act capriciously and callously to use cruelty as a PR tool.
They say 1.9M have volunteered to leave; the financial trail shows a drop in the bucket. They say injuries to the stupid ICEman who walked in front on an idling vehicle. No hospital record released, he was not limping, and most say, based on the phone clips, no runover, no hits, not even a swipe. But guaranteed he put two in her face through the side window as he stood there, perfectly safe.
They say the plan is “worst of the worst,” the truth is that the vast majority have no more criminality than the misdemeanor for jumping the border.
You don’t have a clue what the deportation of 2OM will cost; they lie and won’t tell you.
BUSTED, and golly, I provided evidence. You might try that to avoid these embarrassments of seemingly stupidity.
Frank,
Asking anyone on the Reich is like asking for 5 consecutive winning lottery tickets. It’s never going to happen. I’ve been communicating with a Reich wing friend for 20+ years, he has yet to provide concrete evidence for any of his claims.
Evidence and people on the Reich are mutually contradictory.
Andy
Just take your meds and stfu! The adults are in the room, and screeching from women and children is getting tiring.
AG; I agree, weak tea. I just like getting them to keep twisting my name like trained dogs barking on command.
They can’t posit a position backed by evidence to save their wretched reputations. Just little boys making rude jokes about excrement, genitalia, and their weird fascination with sexual preferences. OMG, if you say trans they melt down is a complete girly hissy fit. Boys got some baggage.
I don’t see mass ICE protests in Atlanta. I don’t see mass ICE protests in Miami. I don’t see mass ICE protests in Dallas. People in these cities aren’t screaming “Gestapo”, they aren’t engaging in mass protests, they aren’t chasing after law enforcement personnel, they aren’t destroying property.
Perhaps there’s something in the water in Minneapolis, perhaps there’s a need to divert attention from massive fraud, perhaps insanity is prevalent in blue states, perhaps assisting law enforcement, instead of protecting criminal aliens, is simply a concept beyond the understanding of DemoSocialists.
Why, at any rate, are they protesting? They will give you many reasons, but upon examination, each and every one of the explanations they provide falls apart – well – all except the one that they are being paid.
The sole actual reason, and they won’t admit it, is that they are protecting illegal aliens. And that is against the law (8 US Codes 1324 and 1327)!
Look harder. 30 arrested in Miami just the other day. Dallas been pretty big. Atlanta area has giant school walk out.
He targets blue, he targets his enemy list. And his Getstapo does the rest. MN got Walz, enemy. Blue. Fraud for military excuse. He’s just being opportunistic.
Can you prove payments to outside agitators? Show us the money!
Fyi: mn fraud started on Trump watch; was mostly prosecuted on Biden’s watch. Was many Somali Americans born in US. The ringleader was a white American, probably a Trumper.
Seems your sources are misleading you.
Dunger When you become good enough to kiss Trump’s ass you can spread your wings and fly. Right into a wall.
And then there is this.
https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-us-citizen-detained-hmong-d009590a491c0c8243ef21ef24db7182
I wish this would happen to a fanatic Trump supporter, then maybe they might understand why an American Gestapo is so bad for everyone.