04/24/2025

The U.S. Has Spent More than $500,000 on YouTube Ads to Discourage Irregular Migration

The Department of Homeland Security has deployed at least 30 ads this month

The United States has spent more than $500,000 on at least 30 YouTube ads this month that threaten undocumented migrants with deportation and a ban on reentry. The campaign, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, includes messages that criminalize migrants and promote "self-deportation" through the CBP One app.

According to data from the Google Ads Transparency Center, to which WIRED had access, the U.S. government has allocated $594,600 to a digital advertising campaign to deter irregular migration.

The funds are distributed across 30 active ads, with a marked geographic focus. California accounted for the largest share of the spending, with $208,000, representing 35 percent of the total. Texas and Florida followed, both with investments close to $120,000, although Florida also recorded additional funds totaling $61,600. Other states with high migrant populations, such as Illinois and New York, were also high priorities. In contrast, some border regions received considerably less; Arizona saw just $20,300.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.