The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is adamant about leveraging video game themes to fuel its anti-immigration efforts. The agency has previously utilized imagery from popular franchises like Pokémon and Halo in social media campaigns aimed at promoting immigrant crackdowns.

DHS recently featured an image from the Halo series with the tagline “Fight the Flood,” which sparked discussions regarding whether they had secured permission from Microsoft for such usage—highlighting the agency’s insensitivity and possible disregard for copyright concerns.

Despite backlash from the gaming community, including the creators of Halo, DHS spokesperson emphasized its intent to connect with diverse audiences using relatable content, stating, “We will reach people where they are with content they can relate to and understand, whether that be Halo, Pokémon, or any other medium.”

This messaging strategy appears to be an escalation of previous tactics, drawing mixed reactions from the public and media alike, and it raises questions about the ethics of such material being employed in government campaigns.