Dr. Phil Joins ICE Raids, Fuels Controversy
TV Personality Gains Exclusive Access During Immigration Crackdown
As federal agents conducted a series of high-profile immigration raids in Los Angeles, television personality Dr. Phil McGraw was present, sparking criticism that the operation was designed for television. The presence of the media figure raises questions about the transparency and intent behind the increased enforcement efforts.
Behind the Scenes with ICE
McGraw and his film crew documented the raids before and after they took place on Friday, leading to several days of protests in the city. According to his conservative television channel, MeritTV, McGraw sought “a first-hand look at the targeted operations.” He also secured “exclusive” access to Tom Homan, Trump’s former border czar, for taped conversations regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
The two men discussed the operation both the day before and the day after the raids, and were also together at the Homeland Security Investigations field office in Los Angeles as the operation began. While MeritTV claimed McGraw did not embed with ICE agents during the raids “in order to not escalate any situation,” his presence alongside Homan and at the field office suggests a close collaboration.
Trump Amplifies Enforcement Efforts
The Friday raids resulted in the detention of dozens of individuals and triggered widespread protests, some of which turned violent. In response, and partially influenced by televised coverage of the unrest, Donald Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard. This move follows a pattern of the administration seeking to maximize media attention surrounding immigration enforcement.
According to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, ICE arrests have increased by 25% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. TRAC provides detailed data on federal enforcement activities.
A Pattern of Media Engagement
This isn’t the first time McGraw has been involved in documenting ICE operations. He was previously embedded with ICE officials in Chicago in January, where agents were reportedly instructed to be “camera-ready” for a show of force at the start of Trump’s second term. Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem frequently appear on Trump-aligned media outlets, and ICE routinely publicizes its actions on social media.
We are not stopping or slowing down. We are not intimidated or apprehensive.
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) June 9, 2025
“We are not stopping or slowing down. We are not intimidated or apprehensive.”
—Dan Bongino, FBI Deputy Director
Rhetoric Escalates
As protests intensified in Los Angeles, Trump officials utilized X (formerly Twitter) to justify the National Guard deployment and warn residents against obstructing immigration operations. Trump himself took to his Truth Social platform, characterizing Los Angeles as “invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” promising to “liberate” the city and restore “order.”
Early Monday morning, as Los Angeles police attempted to disperse demonstrators, Trump appeared to be monitoring television coverage and posted about a police press conference, reacting to videos of clashes in the streets. His final post read, “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”
