In a bold confrontation with Big Tech, two prominent Democratic lawmakers have fired off letters to the CEOs of Meta and Google, demanding the immediate removal of controversial advertisements funded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ads, which allegedly promote white nationalist rhetoric, have sparked outrage over their targeting of Spanish-speaking audiences and use of inflammatory language.
Rep. Becca Balint, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Immigration Subcommittee and of Indian descent, accuse the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of exploiting these platforms for mass recruitment drives. The campaigns aim to hire thousands of new officers in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland, and New Orleans, with relaxed standards including age limits lifted and signing bonuses up to $50,000.
The lawmakers highlight specific ads on Facebook and Instagram, such as one proclaiming ‘Our home will be our home again’—a slogan echoed by far-right and neo-Nazi groups. These are shown to users interested in Mexican food, Latin music, or Spanish language content, raising concerns of psychological manipulation.
Financial disclosures reveal DHS spent over $1 million on ‘self-deportation’ promotions in the past 90 days, plus nearly $3 million on Spanish-language Google and YouTube ads. Last year alone, ICE poured about $5.8 million into Meta and Google advertising.
Balint and Jayapal question how these ads slipped through the companies’ hate speech policies. They demand full details on contracts with DHS, immediate termination of partnerships, and clarification on content moderation failures. This escalating clash underscores growing tensions between tech giants and government agencies amid debates on immigration enforcement.
As recruitment pushes forward with minimal training for new hires, the lawmakers warn of potential radicalization within ICE ranks. Their letters signal a broader push for accountability, forcing Meta and Google to confront the dark side of their ad ecosystems.