If a dystopic voice asking you “to fulfill your mission” of rounding up undocumented immigrants has snuck its way onto your streaming airwaves, you’re far from the only one.
In the last month, online users have reported seeing and hearing an increased amount of recruitment advertising from the Department of Homeland Security on streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify, and HBO Max — and even during September’s MTV VMAs.
The new advertising push, which has faced intense online backlash, has followed the Trump administration’s investment of $30 billion to hire at least 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year, according to the Associated Press. “You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe,” the narrator says in some advertisements targeting local police officers. “But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.”
In the last week, specifically, music listeners on Spotify’s ad-supported free plan have reported hearing similar advertising on the platform, with some choosing to end their membership due to the ads. When reached for comment, a rep for Spotify told Rolling Stone that the DHS commercials were part of a “broad campaign” from the government agency and that it did not violate any advertising policies on the platform. “Users can mark any ad with a thumbs up or thumbs down to help manage their ads preferences,” the rep said.
But the recruitment ads have been running on more than one music or streaming platforms, with fans flagging concerns with the ads on Huu, HBO Max, YouTube, and Pandora, over the past six months.
In a public Pandora community thread started in May 2025, a user who said they have been a Pandora user for over 15 years shared that they were canceling their subscription due to an “overwhelming number” of DHS ads. The thread has received repeated comments from more users sharing their frustration with receiving similar advertisements.
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“This is not a random glitch. It is the result of ad targeting that equates music preference with immigration status,” read the user’s note. “Your platform appears to be allowing (or enabling) ads that racially and culturally profile users based on the language of the music they enjoy.”
In August, DHS confirmed to The Independent that it would be running advertisements on YouTube, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, X, LinkedIn, and other internet platforms. Several Reddit threads discussed folks opting for VPNs to stream without receiving the ads, while others opted to cancel their subscriptions completely. “It isn’t just the fact that they’re advertising, it is how AWFUL the ads actually are,” wrote one user. “Forget the hateful bullshit, just the sheer stupidity of running that ad in Denver is fucking WILD,” added another.
Similarly, Spanish-language channels such as Univision and Telemundo have also run ads featuring Kristi Noem urging “illegal aliens” not to come into the country. “Join the mission to protect America with bonuses up to $50,000 and generous benefits. Apply now join.ice.gov and fulfill your mission,” says one ad.
When reached for comment, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Rolling Stone that there was “nothing offensive or partisan” with removing what it called criminals from the United States. “The ICE recruitment campaign is a resounding success with more than 150,000 applications rolling in from patriotic Americans answering the call to defend the Homeland by helping arrest and remove the worst of the worst from our country,” McLaughlin said.
Earlier this month, the AP reported that ad-spends by DHS had topped $6.5 million, and that spots had been run in several major cities, including Seattle, Chicago, D.C, and Miami, aimed at recruiting local officers frustrated with their cities’ immigration enforcement policies.
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HBO, YouTube, Pandora, and Hulu did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
