Dean Cain, the actor best known for donning Superman’s cape in the 1990s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, is once again in the public eye—but this time, it’s not for his acting. On August 24, 2025, Cain, now 59, was filmed at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training facility in Brunswick, Georgia, as he struggled mightily through a physical obstacle course. The footage, which quickly went viral, has made Cain the subject of widespread mockery and a focal point in the debate over ICE’s latest recruitment campaign.
Cain’s participation at the ICE facility was part of a broader recruitment drive, with the actor taking on the role of “honorary” officer. According to Fox News, Cain appeared on Fox & Friends the morning prior to the release of the video, explaining his decision to join ICE. “I stand with our law enforcement,” Cain stated during his televised interview, adding, “People don’t realize, they think that ICE is this horrible, nefarious group and they’re not—they’re phenomenal people.”
The segment then cut to Cain’s attempts at the agency’s obstacle course—a sequence that has since become internet fodder. The course included scaling a wall, crawling through a tunnel, and dragging a training dummy. Cain was also filmed firing at a gun range alongside acting ICE director Todd Lyons. The footage, which ICE itself has promoted on its social media channels, was intended to inspire new recruits. Instead, it drew a torrent of ridicule.
Social media users wasted no time in lampooning Cain’s performance. One user quipped, “So they can literally just easily run from this dude and not get caught. Cool.” Another compared the scene to “a dog agility show but with a senior dog near death that attempts the course to the sympathetic applause from the audience.” Some even questioned whether the video had been slowed down, while others claimed it proved Cain never did his own stunts during his Superman days. The jokes came thick and fast, with one particularly biting comment noting, “It’s kinda like watching a dog agility show but with a senior dog near death.”
The celebrity backlash extended beyond social media. Comedian John Leguizamo was among the first to criticize Cain, calling him a “loser” for signing up with ICE and quipping that his pronouns were “has/been.” Margaret Cho, another outspoken critic, took the opportunity to highlight Cain’s family history, asking, “Why would you join ICE and encourage people to join ICE when your ancestors were interned in World War II?” Cho was referencing the internment of Cain’s Japanese relatives at Idaho’s Minidoka concentration camp during the war. The criticism from Cho touched a nerve, drawing attention to the complex personal and historical factors at play.
Cain, for his part, has remained defiant in the face of the onslaught. Addressing his detractors, including high-profile comedians John Oliver and Bill Maher, Cain said, “What you’re making fun of is me standing up for federal law enforcement and American citizens. If you want to make fun of me for that, go ahead.” He framed the ridicule as a response to his support for law enforcement, rather than his physical performance on the obstacle course.
ICE, meanwhile, has leaned into the publicity. The agency has actively promoted the footage of Cain “running” the course on its social media channels, using it as a recruitment tool. The timing is no accident; ICE recently removed age caps for applicants, a move that allows both teenagers and individuals over the age of 40 to apply for positions. This policy shift, reportedly spurred by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has led to a surge in interest. ICE claims to have received over 100,000 applications for roughly 10,000 open positions, a figure that underscores the scale of its current hiring push.
To sweeten the deal, ICE has introduced a package of incentives for new recruits. According to the agency’s website and promotional materials, applicants are now eligible for a signing bonus of up to $50,000, student loan repayment of up to $60,000, and a 25 percent premium pay. These perks are prominently featured in the recruitment campaign, with Cain’s participation serving as both a symbolic endorsement and a viral marketing tool.
Cain’s decision to align himself with ICE is not without precedent. Before his foray into the world of immigration enforcement, Cain served as a reserve police officer in Idaho and a deputy sheriff in Virginia. He has cited these experiences as influential in his decision to join ICE, telling his social media followers, “I felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans, not just talk about it.” During his interview with Fox & Friends correspondent Alexis McAdams, Cain praised the ICE personnel at the Brunswick facility, declaring, “These guys are incredible, this whole place is incredible, and what these men and women do is protect the homeland.”
Still, the controversy surrounding Cain’s involvement with ICE is emblematic of the broader debate over the agency’s role and reputation. ICE has long been a lightning rod in American political discourse, with critics highlighting its history of aggressive enforcement tactics and its association with high-profile deportations. Supporters, including Cain, argue that the agency plays a crucial role in maintaining national security and upholding the law.
The spectacle of a former Superman actor struggling through a law enforcement obstacle course has proven irresistible to both critics and supporters. For some, it’s a lighthearted jab at celebrity hubris; for others, it’s an opportunity to debate the merits and drawbacks of ICE’s recruitment strategy. The agency’s willingness to leverage Cain’s fame—however fleeting or controversial—speaks to the evolving nature of public service recruitment in the age of social media and viral content.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Dean Cain’s latest role has thrust him back into the spotlight, not as a superhero, but as a polarizing figure at the intersection of pop culture and public policy. Whether the campaign will ultimately help ICE attract the next generation of agents—or simply serve as a punchline for late-night comedians—remains to be seen. For now, the internet is having its say, and Cain, ever the performer, seems determined to take it all in stride.
