During a recent Joe Rogan Experience episode with comedian Shane Gillis, the topic of ICE deportation videos came up in conversation.
When discussing various controversial actions by the current administration, Gillis stated: “There’s certain things the administration does that I’m just like, damn, you can’t defend it. I don’t think it’s the administration necessarily, but they’ve definitely allowed it to happen where like f**king ICE is making funny videos about deporting people and then like. Like s**t like this damn, dude. That’s terrible.”
The conversation then shifted to how the government agency had used comedian Theo Von’s video without permission. Joe Rogan explained the situation: “They used Theo and a totally unrelated clip that like some lady said, my friend has to leave the country, will you make a video? I heard you got deported.”
Gillis acknowledged that Von’s response to the unauthorized use was appropriate: “I mean, I knew that video existed before. Yeah, I’m the one editing the DHS.”
Rogan explained the situation, stating: “It’s just Theo being funny and they use that in this ICE thing and Theo’s like, ‘Whoa.’ And he had a really good response, too. He got them to take it down, but his response, see if you can find it. Something that his opinions on immigration are much more nuanced.”
Gillis agreed with the sentiment and offered his own perspective on the issue: “I mean, that’s the truth, though. It’s like, yeah, sure. Illegal immigration’s we should fix that. Yeah. Don’t f**king make it funny. It’s a serious thing. It’s a serious thing you’re doing.”
Rogan questioned the reasoning behind making deportation content entertaining, asking: “Why would you make it funny at all? Like, it’s the thought like that that’ll make it popular on TikTok and it’ll spread that way? Is that the thought that it’ll be a video will get people to want to sign up?”
When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. ✈️🎶
Nothing beats it! pic.twitter.com/hlLapr9QsE
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 29, 2025
Gillis responded: “I think a lot of those people are obviously just weird f**king psychos, that are in that world..”
The core of Gillis’s criticism centered on the inappropriateness of government agencies creating entertainment content around serious law enforcement actions. His position was clear: immigration enforcement is necessary, but turning deportations into viral video content crosses a line that trivializes what should be treated as a grave responsibility.
