A Department of Homeland Security video posted online this week used a short clip of comedian Theo Von, aka Theodor Capitani von Kurnatowski III, to set a mocking tone for a montage showing ICE raids and mass deportations.

In the DHS clip, a grab from one of Theo Von’s casual videos plays as he says, “Heard you got deported, dude, bye.” The montage goes on to show people being handcuffed, forced into police vans and loaded onto buses, with on-screen captions boasting figures such as “2 million in 250 days” and “1,600,000 self-deported, 400,000 deportations.” 

The video then cuts to a Trump speech, with the president saying, “They simply stopped coming, they are not coming anymore, leave now.” The video closes with the single-word caption: “Bye.”

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Comedian blasts DHS for using video without consent

Now, responding to the same video, Theo Von posted on social media, asking DHS to remove his clip and compensate him for its use. He also made it clear that the clip was used without permission and that his stance on the issue is “more nuanced” than the montage suggests.

“Yooo DHS, I didn’t approve to be used in this. I know you know my address, so send a cheque. And please take this down, and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos. When it comes to immigration, my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!”

Theo Von’s past remarks on ICE raid

Von’s reaction follows a long, on-air conversation he recently had with a caller on his YouTube show who asked about ICE raids in Los Angeles. The caller, who said she had been a sexual-assault victim in college, linked the raids to failures in the criminal-justice system, like untested rape kits, and asked if the public’s priorities were misplaced.

Von listened and replied with both sympathy and scepticism about online footage. He said some videos may be staged to provoke reaction, while also condemning the sight of children being separated from parents as “heartbreaking.” He acknowledged that many people in the country are technically undocumented and suggested the immigration system is broken and messy.

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On the caller’s point about empathy and who deserves protection, Von said plainly, “I love Mexicans. I would like to be Mexican next time. I’ve prayed for that.” He added that while he lacks detailed expertise in immigration law, he understands the fear and uncertainty felt by people living in the dark.

Many online criticised him for suggesting the ICE raid clips were staged. With his new response, fans were again left divided, some claimed it was only a matter of time before he received a check and stayed quiet, while others defended him, saying he had every right to demand compensation and clarify his actual views on immigration.