Kristi Noem Posts Video Set to Pop Classic to Encourage Migrants to Self Deport, Cites Disputed 1.6M Departures

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a video on X promoting what she called “1.6 million self deportations”, using a video from another user which features a musical montage that encourages migrants to leave the United States.

The video, created by user @miguelifornia, is set to a modified version of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration.” It features doctored images of Noem disco-dancing, clips of migrants boarding removal flights edited to look like they are dancing, and graphics advertising CBP Home, the app proposed by DHS to encourage migrants to self deport

The video also includes an AI clip of President Trump saying, “But if you’re really good, we’re going to help you get back in.” It ends with a QR code to the CBP Home website.

The song’s lyrics were also doctored to promote “self deportation,” including lines that read “We’ll help you pack your things, we’ll pay for your flight too” and “we’re gonna celebrate your departure with you.” Trump is also superimposed dancing over footage of migrants walking toward a plane.

Noem captioned the post:

“Celebrating 1.6 million self deportations! Use CBP Home to get a free flight home, $1,000 exit bonus, and preserve potential opportunity to return the right way.”

The 1.6 million figure, however, has been widely questioned in recent weeks. A PolitiFact report from September found Noem’s claim relies on an estimate from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a conservative think tank that favors low immigration levels. The estimate combines people who left voluntarily, those deported by DHS, those who died, and some who gained legal status.

PolitiFact noted the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report “self-deportation” counts, and immigration demographers cautioned the survey used has a small sample size and wide margin of error. CIS researchers themselves described the number as a “preliminary estimate” based on imperfect data. PolitiFact rated Noem’s statement Half True.