WASHINGTON, Sept 26 — The Pokémon Company is making it clear that it wants no part in the US government’s latest viral stunt. 

In a statement to Washington–based political news outlet The Hill yesterday, the company said it was “not involved in the creation or distribution” of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) video that mashed up footage of ICE raids with the franchise’s iconic theme song and visuals.

The minute-long clip, posted Monday on DHS social channels under the title “Gotta Catch ’Em All,” spliced images of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents detaining migrants with opening credits from the classic Pokémon cartoon. 

It even included mock trading cards featuring mug shots of detained migrants accused of crimes ranging from murder to child endangerment.

“We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand,” Pokémon said in its statement to The Hill. 

“Permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.”

The takedown requests didn’t stop with Pokémon. 

Comedian and podcaster Theo Von also blasted DHS after discovering he’d been inserted into a separate ICE video without permission. 

“Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this,” Von wrote on X, joking that the agency should “send a check” but adding that his views on immigration are “a lot more nuanced than this video allows.” 

DHS appeared to pull the Von clip earlier this week after his public pushback.