The US Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) is going through intense criticism for a sequence of promotional movies that quote Bible verses to border immigration enforcement as a righteous and divinely impressed mission. The movies, shared internally and on recruitment channels, characteristic militarised visuals accompanied by scriptural language—sparking condemnation from non secular leaders and civil rights advocates who say the company is weaponising religion to justify controversial deportation practices.
Isaiah in a Flak Jacket
One of many DHS movies opens with Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I ship? And who will go for us?’ And I mentioned, ‘Right here am I. Ship me!’” The verse, extensively interpreted as a name to non secular service, is layered over footage of brokers descending from helicopters, raiding properties, and processing migrants at detention centres.One other video makes use of Proverbs 28:1: “The depraved flee when nobody pursues, however the righteous are as daring as a lion.” Critics argue that within the context of enforcement footage, this verse implies that migrants are the “depraved” and DHS brokers are the “righteous,” framing deportations as a holy responsibility slightly than a coverage alternative.The Interfaith Alliance’s Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons referred to as the marketing campaign “a confession of ethical chapter,” including, “In case your insurance policies had been simply, you wouldn’t want divine cowl to promote them.”
Crossing the Constitutional Line?
Religion leaders throughout denominations have pushed again towards the DHS marketing campaign. Rev. William Barber mentioned the usage of scripture in enforcement movies was “blasphemous,” whereas Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg likened it to “a canine whistle dressed as a sermon.”Muslim civil rights activist Linda Sarsour warned that dressing up harsh insurance policies in non secular language serves to dehumanise migrants whereas cloaking state violence in ethical absolutism. “Once you put the Bible behind a badge, you’re not defending religion—you’re hijacking it,” she mentioned.Authorized students additionally raised pink flags. The Institution Clause of the US Structure prohibits authorities endorsement of faith. Whereas DHS has not formally responded to requests for clarification, civil liberties teams are reportedly making ready to problem the marketing campaign in court docket.
A Revival of Manifest Future
Along with Biblical references, one video options the portray American Progress, a Nineteenth-century Manifest Future allegory that depicts a white girl floating westward over fleeing Native Individuals. The accompanying slogan reads: “A heritage to be happy with. A homeland price defending.”Observers say the imagery, mixed with scripture, revives settler-colonial rhetoric to border fashionable immigration enforcement as a part of a historic and ethical continuum. Dr Miguel de la Torre, a professor of theology and ethics, mentioned the marketing campaign quantities to “repackaging Manifest Future with HD drones and a Bible verse.”The Noem DoctrineThe division’s messaging shift has taken place underneath the management of Secretary Kristi Noem, who was confirmed by the Senate in January 2025 after resigning as Governor of South Dakota. Identified for her hardline conservative politics, Noem rose to nationwide prominence in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she rejected lockdowns and mandates in favour of what she referred to as “private duty.”A former rancher and four-term US Consultant, Noem has lengthy positioned herself as a constitutionalist with a deep connection to evangelical Christian values. Since taking cost of DHS, she has quickly moved to implement the Trump administration’s second-term immigration agenda—accelerating deportations, dismantling protections put in place underneath the Biden administration, and overseeing a pointy enlargement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.Whereas Noem has not publicly commented on the Bible-verse movies, her tenure has seen an more and more ideological framing of homeland safety, significantly round themes of nationwide future, religion, and border sovereignty. Analysts say the non secular overtones are constant along with her political model and resonate strongly with the conservative base.
Prepping the Base Forward of 2026?
The movies have emerged at a politically strategic second. With deportations growing and immigration again within the headlines, the administration seems to be signalling power to its base forward of the 2026 midterm elections.Analysts counsel the non secular messaging is much less about inner morale and extra about exterior optics—geared toward energising Christian conservatives and reinforcing an ethical narrative round border enforcement. By casting DHS brokers as righteous protectors on a divine mission, the company reframes deportation not as a matter of coverage, however of precept.Conservative commentators have praised the movies as “inspiring,” whereas progressive teams have described them as “harmful theocratic propaganda.” Inside DHS, inner emails obtained by advocacy teams counsel the content material was produced by the Workplace of Public Affairs with out enter from any non secular advisory board.Because the political stakes rise, the road between state energy and non secular language seems to be blurring—with the Bible now taking part in an surprising function within the US authorities’s deportation playbook.