The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed concern over the lack of media coverage on its social media posts that highlight American victims affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. DHS officials stated that, while their social media accounts regularly share stories about these incidents, news outlets have instead focused on the department's posts related to art and criticisms from artists.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented, “This gutter state of ‘journalism’ does a disservice to the American people. Every single day Americans are killed by illegal aliens who should have never been in this country. And nearly every single day the media ignore these victims.” She added, “Where is the media’s obsession with our social media posts on Rachel Morin’s killer being sentenced to life in prison? Where is their coverage on the DHS video of Katie Abraham’s mom and dad telling their heartbreaking story of their daughter being killed in a hit and run by an illegal? Where is the story on the two high school sweethearts killed by an illegal alien drinking and driving in Wisconsin?”
According to DHS, some specific social media posts addressing these cases have not received attention from major news organizations.
DHS attributes what it calls heightened interest in its non-crime-related content to Secretary Noem’s efforts at direct public outreach via social platforms. The agency says this approach bypasses traditional gatekeepers and allows messages to reach citizens directly.
DHS reports that its strategic use of social media now reaches more than 40 million Americans each week. The department notes that its weekly impressions grew significantly—from 3.5 million in February to 46.1 million by July 2025—representing a thirteen-fold increase within six months.
