TOKYO, Japan — The globally renowned Pokémon franchise has publicly distanced itself from a controversial video released by the United States government, which used the brand’s iconic slogan ‘Gotta Catch ‘Em All’ in connection with an immigration enforcement operation. The video, posted by the US Department of Homeland Security on social media platform X, depicted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, featuring armed officers detaining individuals portrayed as illegal immigrants while the Pokémon theme song played in the background. Scenes from the clip included the franchise’s main character, Ash (known as Satoshi in Japan), throwing ‘Poke Balls,’ a signature element of the Pokémon series. Nintendo’s Pokémon Company swiftly issued a statement clarifying that it had no involvement in the creation or dissemination of the video, emphasizing, ‘We have never approved the use of intellectual property that we control.’ The video’s release coincided with the Trump administration’s launch of ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ a new immigration enforcement initiative in Chicago targeting individuals deemed ‘the worst of the worst criminals.’ Since its debut in 1996 as a role-playing game for Nintendo’s Game Boy, Pokémon has grown into a cultural phenomenon, inspiring movies, an animated TV series, and the augmented-reality mobile game ‘Pokémon Go.’ The franchise’s roots lie in the Japanese tradition of bug-collecting, with players capturing and training creatures ranging from mice to dragons. The unauthorized use of Pokémon’s intellectual property in the government’s video has sparked widespread discussion about the intersection of pop culture and political messaging.