Former Lois & Clark star Dean Cain is facing intense backlash after appearing in a new recruitment video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting a furious response from comedian and actress Margaret Cho.
Cho, known for her candid social commentary, released a video on Instagram that took aim at Cain, who is of Japanese descent, for his role as a public face for the agency. She accused him of becoming “ICE Barbie’s sidekick,” a jab at the actor for his new, controversial role.
“You’re Japanese, You’re Not Even White”
In her scathing video, Cho directly questioned Cain’s decision to promote an agency that has been involved in highly contested immigration policies. “Why would you join ICE and encourage people to join ICE when your ancestors were interned in World War II?” Cho asked. “You’re Japanese,” she continued, “You’re not even white… I know you, and you are not white. You have never been white. And no matter how many of these white activities that you participate in, it’s never gonna make that happen.”
Read more: Former ‘Superman’ Actor Dean Cain Joins ICE, Backs Trump’s Deportation Plan
Cain, born Dean Tanaka, has always been open about his heritage. He is half-Japanese on his father’s side. In a recent interview with Variety, he addressed those who accuse him of trying to hide his background. “Tanaka is my given name, and it’s funny that people are like, ‘Well, you tried to hide that.’ It’s tattooed on my ankle,” he said. He also acknowledged the painful history of Japanese internment camps. “My family was interned in the Minidoka internment camp in Idaho. That was a horrible injustice, but I don’t think that I deserve any sort of reparations,” he added.
A New Role with a Political Agenda
Cain’s recruitment video, which he shared on his own social media, urges Americans to join ICE. In the clip, he claims the agency is arresting “hundreds of thousands of criminals, including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, you name it—very dangerous people.”
However, this statement has been disputed by data. A report from TRAC revealed that as of July 27, approximately seven out of every 10 migrants detained by ICE had no prior criminal record in the U.S.
@themargaretcho Wong is a #chinese name but still #resist #dumb #never ♬ original sound – themargaretcho
Cain has not backed down from his controversial position, stating that he voted for the agency’s policies and believes the country needs help to “protect our homeland and our families.” His remarks have drawn fire from others in Hollywood, including actor and activist John Leguizamo, who sarcastically called him “MAGA Superman” and questioned his motivations.
Read more: Is Superman ‘Too Woke’? Dean Cain Weighs In on Immigration Debate
The debate around Cain’s public stance continues to intensify, with critics highlighting the stark contrast between his family’s history and his support for policies that have been accused of targeting immigrant communities.
