South Park slams DHS after using show's image for recruitment

In the United States, the animated series South Park made headlines following a post by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that used a still from an episode teaser to promote recruitment for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This incident occurred on August 5, 2025, when the DHS X account shared an image showcasing ICE officers alongside the caption 'JOIN.ICE.GOV.' which stopped South Park in its track. Shortly after this, South Park's official account retorted with a post saying, 'Wait, so we ARE relevant?' accompanied by the hashtag 'eat a bag of d***s,' referencing a prior dismissal of the show’s relevance by a White House spokesperson. This response comes amidst notable attention surrounding the premiere episode of South Park's 27th season, which reportedly achieved record ratings. The show garnered 5.9 million viewers and marked its most successful season premiere since 2022. It featured bold themes criticizing President Trump in potentially inflammatory contexts, including surreal images of him in a compromising situation with the devil. The Department of Homeland Security, in light of the show's recent disparagement, issued a statement thanking South Park for inadvertently directing attention to their efforts in recruiting agents, claiming a record influx of nearly 78,000 applications to join ICE. This recruitment surge coincides with an increase in calls for more law enforcement personnel to combat what the DHS describes as an influx of criminals and security threats within the nation, correlating with ongoing political discourse surrounding immigration and security policies. South Park’s ongoing satire and engagement with sociopolitical themes suggest a creative response to current events and criticism from governmental figures, indicating that the show remains a significant voice in American comedic commentary, despite claims of its irrelevance.