 "Is US considering a reality TV show for immigrants to compete for citizenship?")
Forget the long wait for green cards — the United States might soon offer a new, rather unexpected path to citizenship: A reality TV show.
Yes, you read that right.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Department of Homeland Security is exploring the idea of participating in a television series where immigrants would compete for a chance to become US citizens.
The show, tentatively titled The American, is still in its early stages and under review of Trump officials.
So what exactly would the show look like? What challenges would contestants face, and what’s in store for the winners and the ones who don’t make it? Here’s what we know so far.
The citizenship challenge
The concept for the show was first pitched by writer and producer Rob Worsoff, who is now working with Trump administration officials to shape it further.
Worsoff is best known for producing the reality shows Duck Dynasty, The Millionaire Matchmaker, and Dating Naked.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed Worsoff’s 35-page pitch, the Canadian-born producer wants to “celebrate what it means to be American and have a national conversation about what it means to be American, through the eyes of the people who want it most.”
In the proposed format, each hour-long episode would feature 12 pre-vetted immigrants travelling across the United States and taking part in regional, culturally rooted challenges. The aim? To prove just how “American” they are. One contestant would be eliminated at the end of each episode.
“This isn’t ‘The Hunger Games’ for immigrants,” Worsoff said, adding that only immigrants who are already legally in the system would participate. The contests may include quizzes on American history and science, but with a crucial disclaimer: losing won’t mean deportation.
“This is not, ‘Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat out of the country,’” he said.
The journey would kick off at Ellis Island, where contestants would arrive aboard a ship fittingly named “The Citizen Ship.” Upon arrival, each would receive a baseball glove handed over by a “famous, naturalised American.” Some celebrity names suggested include Sofia Vergara, Ryan Reynolds, and Mila Kunis, although none have officially signed on.
Following this symbolic welcome, the participants would board a train called “The American,” and begin a cross-country competition.
The challenges would span the nation’s diverse landscape, from collecting gold in San Francisco and rafting in Colorado, to clam-digging in Maine and rocket launching in Florida. Other tasks would include balancing logs in Wisconsin, assembling a Model T car in Detroit, and delivering mail on horseback in Kansas.
“We’ll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy — hearing their backstories — as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American,” the pitch adds.
What will the winners and losers get?
While the show promises a dramatic journey across America, it also aims to end with a life-changing reward.
The winner will reportedly be sworn in as a US citizen on the steps of the Capitol by “a top American politician or judge” as the US Air Force Thunderbirds fly overhead.
“There won’t be a dry eye within 10 miles,” the pitch reads.
The losing contestants will go home with “iconically American” prizes, including a million American Airlines points, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, and a lifetime supply of 76 gasoline. They will also have a leg up as they undergo the traditional citizenship process.
Will the show actually air?
Not anytime soon.
According to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the show is still in its early stages and far from becoming a reality. “Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval,” she said, confirming that The American is still being reviewed.
While Worsoff is confident that the concept has the potential to attract big sponsors and wide commercial success, the project has not yet secured financial backing or a network to air it.
Adding to that, McLaughlin denied any suggestion that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem supports or is even aware of the pitch. She clarified that the department receives hundreds of pitches each year, ranging from shows on border operations to white-collar crime, and all go through the same detailed review process.
“This pitch has not received approval or denial by staff,” she said.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Worsoff has tried to get the show off the ground. He said he had earlier discussed the idea with officials during both the Obama and Biden administrations, but the plans never materialised.
The renewed pitch comes amid a larger backdrop of immigration policy debates in the US, especially under President Trump’s administration.
While Trump rose to power as a former reality show host himself, his time in office is seeing a tougher stance on immigration.
On January 20, just after being sworn in for a second term, he suspended the asylum system as part of his wide-ranging crackdown on illegal immigration, signing a string of executive orders devised to stop what he called the “invasion” of the United States.
With input from agencies
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