NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, May 17, 2025: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly reviewing a proposal for a reality television show where immigrants would compete for a fast-track to U.S. citizenship. The concept, titled The American, was pitched by television producer Rob Worsoff and has drawn national attention after being reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Worsoff, a Canadian-born producer best known for his work on Duck Dynasty, envisions the show as a positive and patriotic take on the immigration process. The competition would feature legal immigrants already in the U.S. system, participating in challenges designed to showcase American values and history.
According to early descriptions, contestants would begin their journey at Ellis Island, a symbolic nod to America’s immigrant past. From there, they would travel across the country, engaging in a variety of tasks—ranging from history quizzes to physical activities like reassembling a Model T Ford and panning for gold. Each episode would conclude with the elimination of one participant, leading to a final winner who would be awarded an expedited path to U.S. citizenship.
DHS officials confirmed that the proposal is under internal review but emphasized that it has not yet been formally approved. A department spokesperson noted that Secretary Kristi Noem has not reviewed the pitch. Worsoff, for his part, claims he has received encouraging responses from some officials and has held discussions with TV networks, though the show is still in its early stages of development.
This is not the first time Worsoff has floated the idea. He previously attempted to pitch The American during the Obama and Biden administrations, but it failed to gain traction. With a new push, the proposal is once again under consideration—though it remains unclear how seriously the government is entertaining the idea.
Reactions to the concept have been mixed. Some view it as an innovative way to celebrate the immigrant journey and promote civic values. Others, however, have criticized it as reducing a solemn and often arduous process to a spectacle. On social media, comparisons have been drawn to dystopian fiction, with some calling it a “Hunger Games-style” approach to immigration policy.
Despite the controversy, the idea taps into a broader trend of blending entertainment with civic life. Whether The American will ever make it to air—or whether it remains just a provocative pitch—remains to be seen.
