The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing intense criticism for a series of promotional videos that quote Bible verses to frame immigration enforcement as a righteous and divinely inspired mission. The videos, shared internally and on recruitment channels, feature militarised visuals accompanied by scriptural language—sparking condemnation from religious leaders and civil rights advocates who say the agency is weaponising faith to justify controversial deportation practices.
Isaiah in a Flak Jacket
One of the DHS videos opens with Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” The verse, widely interpreted as a call to spiritual service, is layered over footage of agents descending from helicopters, raiding homes, and processing migrants at detention centres.Another video uses Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Critics argue that in the context of enforcement footage, this verse implies that migrants are the “wicked” and DHS agents are the “righteous,” framing deportations as a holy duty rather than a policy choice.The Interfaith Alliance’s Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons called the campaign “a confession of moral bankruptcy,” adding, “If your policies were just, you wouldn’t need divine cover to sell them.”
Crossing the Constitutional Line?
Faith leaders across denominations have pushed back against the DHS campaign. Rev. William Barber said the use of scripture in enforcement videos was “blasphemous,” while Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg likened it to “a dog whistle dressed as a sermon.”Muslim civil rights activist Linda Sarsour warned that dressing up harsh policies in religious language serves to dehumanise migrants while cloaking state violence in moral absolutism. “When you put the Bible behind a badge, you’re not protecting faith—you’re hijacking it,” she said.Legal scholars also raised red flags. The Establishment Clause of the US Constitution prohibits government endorsement of religion. While DHS has not officially responded to requests for clarification, civil liberties groups are reportedly preparing to challenge the campaign in court.
A Revival of Manifest Destiny
In addition to Biblical references, one video features the painting American Progress, a 19th-century Manifest Destiny allegory that depicts a white woman floating westward over fleeing Native Americans. The accompanying slogan reads: “A heritage to be proud of. A homeland worth defending.”Observers say the imagery, combined with scripture, revives settler-colonial rhetoric to frame modern immigration enforcement as part of a historical and moral continuum. Dr Miguel de la Torre, a professor of theology and ethics, said the campaign amounts to “repackaging Manifest Destiny with HD drones and a Bible verse.”The Noem DoctrineThe department’s messaging shift has taken place under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem, who was confirmed by the Senate in January 2025 after resigning as Governor of South Dakota. Known for her hardline conservative politics, Noem rose to national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she rejected lockdowns and mandates in favour of what she called “personal responsibility.”A former rancher and four-term US Representative, Noem has long positioned herself as a constitutionalist with a deep connection to evangelical Christian values. Since taking charge of DHS, she has rapidly moved to implement the Trump administration’s second-term immigration agenda—accelerating deportations, dismantling protections put in place under the Biden administration, and overseeing a sharp expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.While Noem has not publicly commented on the Bible-verse videos, her tenure has seen an increasingly ideological framing of homeland security, particularly around themes of national destiny, faith, and border sovereignty. Analysts say the religious overtones are consistent with her political brand and resonate strongly with the conservative base.
Prepping the Base Ahead of 2026?
The videos have emerged at a politically strategic moment. With deportations increasing and immigration back in the headlines, the administration appears to be signalling strength to its base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.Analysts suggest the religious messaging is less about internal morale and more about external optics—aimed at energising Christian conservatives and reinforcing a moral narrative around border enforcement. By casting DHS agents as righteous protectors on a divine mission, the agency reframes deportation not as a matter of policy, but of principle.Conservative commentators have praised the videos as “inspiring,” while progressive groups have described them as “dangerous theocratic propaganda.” Inside DHS, internal emails obtained by advocacy groups suggest the content was produced by the Office of Public Affairs without input from any religious advisory board.As the political stakes rise, the line between state power and spiritual language appears to be blurring—with the Bible now playing an unexpected role in the US government’s deportation playbook.
