A viral video showing a church priest defiantly condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has been exposed as an AI-generated deepfake. The footage, which went viral on December 1 and garnered tens of thousands of views, depicts the priest shouting at ICE officers with the words: “I don’t know what god you worship, maybe an orange one, but my God is love! Now go and don’t come back!”
The video was created by a user who sells courses on generating AI content for social media profit. This individual has previously posted similar videos across platforms including Facebook and TikTok.
Independent analysis confirms the video contains 99.9% AI-generated or deepfake content, according to technology detection tools.
In contrast, some real religious groups have used their platforms to protest immigration policies. The Lake Street Church of Evanston in Illinois created a Nativity scene where Jesus is depicted in zip ties, symbolizing being hunted by ICE agents. Similarly, Saint Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts displayed an empty nativity scene with a sign reading “ICE was here,” indicating the holy family had been removed.
The Boston archdiocese has urged the church to remove the display, but the parish remains defiant.
