The Pokémon Company publicly stated that the U.S. government used its characters, such as Pikachu, without authorization in a series of troubling promotional videos for the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. These videos, which went live on September 22, featured ICE agents conducting arrests alongside imagery styled like Pokémon media. Notable was a sequence utilizing the Pokémon font to present ‘Department of Homeland Security’.

The first video prompted a wave of disbelief from the community due to its uncanny combination of serious law enforcement actions and children’s entertainment motifs. Following this, additional content from Customs and Border Protection included Pokémon-themed cards displaying images of convicted individuals.

While public support was expressed for the agency’s creative approach, criticism arose regarding the potential infringement on the Pokémon Company’s intellectual property rights. In response, the company acknowledged on PC Gamer that they did not give permission for the usage of their creative assets in the DHS campaign. Their statement declared:
“We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand. Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.”

Although historically proactive in defending its rights, the Pokémon Company, according to ex-legal officer Don McGowan, may opt to refrain from escalating the situation, noting the publicity risks involved.

In a somewhat cheeky comeback, a spokesperson from the DHS echoed a theme song’s lyrics: “To arrest them is our real test. To deport them is our cause.”