Government agency’s social media post under fire for using unlicensed music and media

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America’s Department of Homeland Security isn’t just enforcing immigration law—it’s also making memes on X and Instagram, posting migrant mugshots, ICE recruitment ads, and "humorous" content. Many of these posts borrow images, music, and clips from artists, TV shows, and airlines without permission, including a South Park still and a use of Jess Glynne’s song "Hold My Hand." Both the show’s creators and Glynne publicly criticized DHS, highlighting the misuse of content meant for satire or positivity.  DHS hasn’t directly addressed copyright concerns, instead claiming it’s “bypassing the mainstream media to give Americans the facts.” Experts say claiming fair use is difficult when promoting a government agenda, and licenses on social platforms often don’t cover organizational use, meaning DHS would still need permission. So far, a few videos have had music muted, but no formal lawsuits have been filed, though other agencies have faced similar pushback for unlicensed use of music.

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00:00America's Department of Homeland Security isn't just enforcing immigration laws these days,

00:04it's making memes. And not everyone's laughing. Under Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS has reportedly

00:10amped up its presence on X and Instagram, posting migrant mugshots, ICE recruitment ads,

00:16and memes meant to be, quote, humorous. But the punchlines? They're often borrowed without

00:20permission from artists, TV shows, and even airlines. Take the steal from South Park that

00:24ridiculed ICE. DHS repurposed it for their own post to recruit more ICE agents, despite the

00:30original scene mocking the agency itself. The show's creators responded with a sarcastic, quote,

00:35wait, so we are relevant, in reference to a previous comment made by White House spokesperson

00:40Taylor Rogers, who stated, this show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by

00:45a thread with uninspired ideas and a desperate attempt for attention. Then came a parody of a

00:50British ad using British singer Jess Glynn's hit Hold My Hand, but instead of tropical vacations,

00:56it pushed mass deportations. The airline has reportedly stated the post was, quote,

01:00not endorsed by us in any way, and we are very disappointed to see our brand being used to

01:05promote government policies such as this. Glynn herself took to Instagram to state the song,

01:10quote, is about love, unity, and spreading positivity, never about division or hate.

01:15So what's the DHS's defense? According to NBC News, the department didn't address copyright law

01:22directly. Instead, it doubled down, saying it's bypassing the mainstream media to give Americans

01:27the facts. Legally speaking, copyright experts say DHS might try to argue fair use, but that's a

01:33tougher case to make when the content is promoting a government agency's agenda. As Cynthia Katz,

01:38a partner at the New York law firm Fox Rothschild and an expert in copyright law, told ABC News,

01:44music available on social media platforms is often licensed only for personal use of individual

01:49members. Those licenses do not extend to commercial or organizational uses like a federal agency's

01:54promotional post, meaning DHS would still need to secure its own rights to the material.

01:59So far, reports state two videos had their music tracks muted after complaints from the artist,

02:04including the use of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's song, God's Gonna Cut You Down. So far,

02:09there have been no confirmed reports of formal lawsuits filed against the DHS. Share your thoughts

02:13and follow us everywhere at What's Trending.

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