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By Alia Shoaib
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TV host Dr. Phil shared footage of himself embedded with immigration enforcement officers as they conducted an operation in Chicago on Sunday.
Newsweek reached out to the White House, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Dr. Phil's Merit Media for comment via email on Monday.
Why It Matters
The presence of a celebrity at an ICE operation is highly unusual and could signal the Trump administration's attempt to generate positive PR for its aggressive immigration crackdown.
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President Donald Trump has already begun delivering on his campaign pledge to implement a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, expanding raids and giving law enforcement broader powers to conduct arrests. Trump made immigration a central theme of his presidential campaign, and Americans largely support his mass deportation plans.
A New York Times/Ipsos poll from January 2 to 10 found that 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported "Deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records." Large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the immigration system is broken.
What To Know
Phil McGraw, known as Dr. Phil, is famous for his eponymous TV show in which he gives advice to ordinary Americans using his background as a psychologist.
McGraw shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, in which he questions a man from Thailand who immigration enforcement officers had arrested.
"I've seen you on Dr. Phil on TV," the man says to McGraw.
President Donald Trump's newly appointed border czar, Tom Homan, is by the TV host's side in the video. In another video, McGraw sits with Homan in an ICE Command Center, discussing the administration's immigration strategy.
McGraw has been open about his support for Trump, appearing at one of his New York campaign rallies in October to endorse him for the 2024 presidential election.
What People Are Saying
Former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, on X: "Dr Phil you spent your whole life talking about compassion. Don't destroy a 50 year reputation by sanctioning this."
Former Republican Illinois Representative Joe Walsh, on X: "Dr. Phil.' These targeted raids went on all the time under Obama, they went on all the time under Biden. In fact, Obama, in each of his terms, deported way more people than Trump. Biden & Trump deported the same number. But neither Obama nor Biden chose to bring a talk show host along on the raids and post a video. Because neither Obama nor Biden is cruel."
Comedian and podcaster Danny Polishchuk, on X: "Only in America do you get deported by a fake doctor from the TV. Best country in the world!"
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What Happens Next
It is unclear if McGraw plans to accompany immigration enforcement officers on future operations.
In the past year, McGraw has interviewed Trump several times, as well as others affiliated with Trump, such as Homan and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His show schedule for this week also shows an upcoming episode about the "border crisis," championing stricter immigration laws.
It seems likely he will continue his collaboration with the Trump administration and produce content about the immigration crackdown.
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