Japan’s Pokemon says it did not approve use in ICE immigration video

Law enforcement officer from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) walking back to their vehicle after responding to a emergency call in Franklin Park in downtown Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Japan’s wildly popular Pokemon franchise distanced itself on Friday from a recent viral US government video that linked the brand’s “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” slogan to Washington’s immigration crackdown.

The US Department of Homeland Security posted a clip on social media platform X this week that showed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.

The clip showed armed police and border patrol officers handcuffing what it portrayed as illegal immigrants, with Pokemon’s famous English-language theme playing in the background.

Throughout the clip, images showed the main character Satoshi, known as Ash in North America, throwing “Poke Balls” -- a tool used in the Pokemon series to catch and store wild monsters.

Nintendo’s Pokemon franchise denied any involvement in the making or posting of the video.

“We have never approved the use of intellectual property that we control,” the firm’s public relations office said in a statement sent to AFP.

US President Donald Trump’s administration launched “Operation Midway Blitz” this month, a new immigration enforcement operation in Chicago it said would target the “worst of the worst criminals”.

Pokemon became a global hit after its 1996 launch as a role-playing game for Nintendo’s handheld Game Boy console.

Inspired by the Japanese summer childhood tradition of bug-collecting, players catch and train “pocket monsters” inspired by everything from mice to dragons.

The franchise also includes movies, an animated TV show, and the “Pokemon Go” augmented-reality mobile game.