Dean Cain Sparks Controversy with ICE Recruitment Video

Former actor Dean Cain, known for his role as Superman in the 1990s television series *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman*, has ignited significant backlash following his appearance in a recruitment video for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Cain, who portrayed Clark Kent alongside Teri Hatcher, expressed his desire to “help secure the safety of all Americans, not just talk about it.”

In the video, which features the familiar Superman theme, Cain promotes various benefits associated with joining ICE, including a signing bonus of $50,000, student loan repayment assistance, and enhanced retirement plans. He stated that the agency has arrested “hundreds of thousands of criminals, including terrorists, rapists, murderers, paedophiles, MS-13 gang members, and drug traffickers.” Cain, who was born Dean George Tanaka and is of Japanese descent, claimed that ICE is “helping save America and removing the worst of the worst from America’s streets.” He encouraged potential recruits to consider joining, captioning his post, “Join ICE! We need you to help protect US.”

Online reactions to Cain’s video have been swift and varied. Many users expressed disappointment, with one stating, “Until I saw this, I was such a fan,” while another remarked, “Shame on you Dean, that’s the most un-Superman thing you could possibly advocate.” A third comment highlighted the irony of his stance coming from a descendant of Japanese immigrants.

Appearing on Fox News shortly after the backlash, Cain defended his message. He argued that “America was built on patriots stepping up, whether it was popular or not,” and insisted that his support for ICE aligns with the will of the voters, including his own. The agency has faced increasing scrutiny over its practices, including mass raids that have reportedly led to the arrests of undocumented immigrants, legal residents, and even U.S. citizens. Under Donald Trump’s administration, ICE received an additional $75 billion for its operations, raising further concerns among critics.

Cain’s recruitment efforts come in the wake of another controversy involving the animated series *South Park*. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security used an image from the show in an ICE recruitment post, prompting the series’ official account to reshare the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a sarcastic caption and the hashtag #eatabagofd***s. This episode drew 5.9 million viewers, marking the show’s highest-rated premiere since 2022.

As the debate surrounding ICE continues, Cain’s involvement in this recruitment campaign highlights the complexities of immigration enforcement in the United States and the varying public perceptions of those who support it.