Dr. Phil isn’t who you’d expect to find near a Homeland Security field office. Most Americans recognize him from daytime TV, doling out plainspoken advice to dysfunctional families.
These days, he’s turned his attention to a different kind of crisis: immigration enforcement.
In January and again in June, McGraw and his Merit Street Media crew documented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting criminal activity.
The first time in Chicago, he was embedded. Cameras, agents, raids, the whole thing.
The second time in Los Angeles, he kept a step back, filming from the field office and capturing interviews before and after the sweep. It aired as a two-night special.
Cue the uproar.
A Made-for-TV Moment?
To the left, Dr. Phil has become a “propagandist” for the Trump administration. MSNBC, CNN, and a handful of op-ed warriors accused him of turning law enforcement into a spectacle.
They didn’t like that he called out protesters for torching cars and looting stores in the aftermath. Nor did they appreciate him saying on air that the targeted business might be a cartel front, before any formal charges were confirmed.
Those criticisms aren’t without merit. Serious claims should be handled with care.
Still, the larger reaction seemed out of proportion. McGraw’s cameras captured a federal operation, not a made-up confrontation.
The footage wasn’t exaggerated. If anything, it was matter-of-fact.
While critics focused on tone and optics, many Americans were watching something else entirely: a rare window into how immigration laws are enforced on the ground.
What Conservatives See
Conservatives aren’t shocked that media elites are hand-wringing.
What is surprising is a celebrity using their platform to show law enforcement doing its job.
Dr. Phil is doing what CNN won’t, putting a camera where it counts and letting the public see reality: agents serving warrants on suspected criminals, including some tied to trafficking and organized fraud.
That’s not propaganda. That’s literally just journalism.
Even better, it’s journalism with reach. Dr. Phil speaks to a large, older, mostly female audience.
These are people who don’t live on X or TikTok, but who care about border security and public safety. His new media network, MeritTV, pitches itself as “common sense TV.”
Ethics and Eyebrows
Concerns were raised about the ethics of interviewing individuals in custody. That’s a valid point, especially when legal rights are involved.
Conservatives value privacy and due process. We believe in limited government and clear accountability.
When ICE acts, it should be lawful, targeted, and transparent, not just efficient.
Still, the larger story is being missed.
The Los Angeles raid wasn’t random. It followed investigations into money laundering, possible cartel activity, and immigration violations.
Critics would prefer to talk about optics. We’re more concerned with outcomes.
Was the law enforced properly? Were dangerous actors removed from communities?
Those are the questions that matter.
A Culture War Within a Law Enforcement Story
McGraw’s shift into political media makes some people squirm.
That’s fine. America has room for scrutiny.
But it’s worth asking, why do celebrities like Taylor Swift get applauded for pushing ballots, while McGraw gets scolded for filming federal agents arresting suspected criminals?
I doubt there’s any one of us who hasn’t seen a slip from the show COPS at some point, so it’s not like this kind of content with law enforcement is new.
Maybe the answer’s too simple. The message doesn’t fit the narrative.
Progressive outlets want enforcement to look like oppression. McGraw’s camera made it look professional. Boring, even.
Most of the ICE agents appeared calm, collected, and serious. Not stormtroopers. Not bullies. Just men and women doing their job.
Bottom Line
Dr. Phil’s camera doesn’t carry a badge. It also doesn’t seem to carry an agenda, unless showing Americans what’s actually happening is now considered political.
Was it perfect? No.
Was it necessary? Probably.
For all the screaming about “spectacle,” the real drama seems to be what happens when people see immigration enforcement up close and realize it’s not chaos, but coordination.
That’s not reality TV. That’s reality.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
