The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released another controversial holiday message this Tuesday, celebrating the reduction of the “illegal population” for the season.
"This Christmas, our hearts expand as our illegal population decreases," the agency posted on its official X account (formerly Twitter).
The comment was interpreted as an attempt to justify the mass deportations driven by the current DHS head, Kristi Noem, who has advocated for a hardline stance on immigration since her appointment by President Donald Trump.
Recently, other similar messages have sparked reactions labeling them as "cruel" and "shameful," especially when published on the eve of Christmas, a time associated with compassion and family spirit.
“The government may uphold more or less debatable policies, but it cannot be insensitive to the human consequences of its actions,” denounced a viral comment in response to the official tweet, describing the post as “a spit in the face of sensitivity.”
The Hispanic community in Miami itself, including Cuban immigrants, displayed mixed reactions: while some defended the deportation policy, others expressed concern over the government's lack of empathy towards migrants in irregular situations.
"The saddest thing is to see those who fled from authoritarian regimes applauding messages that degrade other immigrants," expressed a Cuban-American activist consulted by CiberCuba.
The Department of Homeland Security has not issued a formal apology, although sources close to the agency stated that the message "did not reflect the institutional position," but rather a "communication error" by the digital team.
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