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Los Angeles, CA – A heated exchange on the HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher” saw comedian Bill Maher sharply question Dr. Phil McGraw’s recent participation in joint operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The confrontation, which occurred on the August 8, 2025, episode, centered on the perceived contradiction between Dr. Phil’s long-standing public image as a family therapist and his involvement in ICE raids that result in family separations.
Maher directly challenged Dr. Phil, stating, “Why are you going on these ICE raids? You’re a guy who we certainly know for so many years who has been working to put families together, to bring families who are apart and heal them. And now you’re going on raids with people who are literally separating families.”
Dr. Phil responded defensively, dismissing Maher’s claims as “bullshit” and immediately shifting the focus to accusations of Democratic politicians “doxxing” ICE agents. He further asserted that he had reviewed case files of individuals arrested during the raids, claiming they revealed extensive criminal histories, including multiple offenses related to child predation. He specifically stated some individuals had “12, 14 different cases long of child predators” on their records.
Maher countered Dr. Phil’s claims, acknowledging the public’s desire to remove violent criminals and gang members. However, he argued that the ICE operations had expanded beyond targeting such individuals, and now included the apprehension of individuals “standing in front of a Home Depot just looking for an honest day’s work.” He emphasized these were “the good people” being affected by the raids.
According to sources familiar with the show’s production, Dr.Phil was visibly flustered by maher’s questioning and offered no substantive rebuttal to the claim that the raids were impacting law-abiding individuals. The exchange concluded with Dr. Phil remaining largely silent.
Background: Dr. Phil’s Involvement with ICE
Dr. Phil McGraw began accompanying ICE agents on raids in early July 2025, documenting the operations for a planned docuseries. He has publicly defended his involvement, stating his intention is to shed light on the challenges faced by ICE agents and the dangers posed by individuals illegally crossing the border.The docuseries is slated to air on a yet-to-be-announced streaming platform in Fall 2025.
ICE has faced ongoing criticism from immigration advocacy groups regarding its enforcement tactics,particularly the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency maintains that its operations are focused on apprehending individuals who pose a threat to public safety or who have violated immigration laws. According to ICE data released in June 2025, the agency conducted 14,872 arrests during the first six months of the year, a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of those arrests, 3,215 individuals had prior criminal convictions.
Dr.Phil’s career has been largely centered around psychology and family counseling. He hosted the nationally syndicated television show “Dr.Phil” for 21 seasons, ending in 2023. His involvement with ICE represents a notable departure from his previous work and has sparked considerable controversy.
Bill Maher humiliating Dr. Phil: “Why are you going on these ICE raids? You’re a guy who we certainly know for so many years who has been working to put families together, to bring families who are apart and heal them. And now you’re going on raids with people who are literally separating… pic.twitter.com/RXwBuBDqcb
– blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) August 9, 2025
