US authorities have released a Christmas video created using artificial intelligence, in which Santa Claus poses as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, Express reports.

In the short, holiday-themed video, Santa Claus, dressed in a red suit and a bulletproof vest with the ICE logo, detains illegal immigrants, escorts them to a processing center, and helps them board a plane for deportation.

The message in the video is worded as a warning to “avoid Santa's naughty list” if illegal immigrants do not voluntarily leave the United States.

The video was posted on the agency’s official social media page and encourages people to use the CBP Home app (formerly known as CBP One) to voluntarily depart. The creators of the video promise that those who take advantage of the offer by December 31 will receive travel assistance and a financial bonus of up to $ 3,000 as part of the seasonal program “Home for the Holidays”. The video lasts about 18 seconds and ends with the words “Merry Christmas.”

It also reflects a broader campaign by the US Department of Homeland Security to encourage the voluntary departure of illegal immigrants as an alternative to forced deportation. The release of the video caused a heated reaction in international media and social networks, with some commentators calling it an eccentric way to convey the US government’s message, while others pointed out the possible ethical and moral issues associated with promoting immigration policies using the festive image of Santa Claus.