(RNS) — In a video posted to its X account July 28, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned “EVERY CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN IN AMERICA” that the U.S. Border Patrol’s special operations group was coming to hunt them down.
The video, using an intimidating tone typical of DHS promotional videos on immigration enforcement, also quoted an unexpected religious reference — the Bible.
The 40-second clip shows Border Patrol agents in tactical gear seemingly preparing for an operation as a verse from the Book of Proverbs fades into the screen. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion,” reads the text, attributed to Proverbs 28:1. The soundtrack features the opening monologue of “The Batman” movie (2022), with actor Robert Pattinson declaring, “They think I’m hiding in the shadow, but I am the shadow,” a nod at immigration agents’ readiness for their mission.
The video received 37,000 likes and had been shared about 9,000 times as of Tuesday (Aug. 19) but irked some X users who were surprised to see a religious text quoted in the governmental agency’s communications. It is one of many posts by the agency since June across Instagram, Facebook and X quoting Scripture or invoking religious imagery to promote its efforts to arrest and deport immigrants.
The agency’s apparent turn to Scripture comes as it seeks to recruit U.S. Immigration and Customs …