In a press conference that made Pikachu’s cheeks spark in fury, The Pokémon Company issued a scathing statement against the Department of Homeland Security after ICE agents reportedly shouted “Gotta Catch ’Em All!” during a late-night immigration raid. Witnesses claim the agents even wore knockoff Ash Ketchum caps while handcuffing people, leaving families both traumatized and deeply confused about whether they’d wandered into a live-action parody.
Pokémon’s lawyers said the franchise had “absolutely not authorized” the use of its slogan in connection with federal deportation theatrics, warning that “Poké Balls are for capturing magical creatures, not terrified humans.”
Critics online dubbed the raid “Pokémon Go to Jail,” sparking furious memes and one petition to deport the ICE team directly to Lavender Town. DHS declined to comment but confirmed they’re “reviewing branding guidelines,” raising fears that future raids could involve Yu-Gi-Oh cards or, worse, a Dora the Explorer crossover.
