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Dr. Phil denied he was “embedded” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they conducted a string of immigration raids in Los Angeles, but admitted his cameras were there capturing the chaos.
A spokesperson for the conservative TV personality, whose real name is Phil McGraw, said he was not filming on the ground alongside immigration officials as he had previously done in Chicago as to avoid escalating the situation.
“MeritTV news crews were on the ground during the recent ICE operations in LA on Friday. In order to not escalate any situation, Dr. Phil McGraw did not join and was not embedded, as he previously was in Chicago,” a spokesperson for McGraw told The Independent.
McGraw had conducted an exclusive interview with President Donald Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, on June 6 and 7, just before the ICE operation that prompted the violent protests across Los Angeles, according to the statement.
The statement from his spokesperson comes amidst reports that McGraw was “embedded” with immigration officials in the segment, which is set to air on “Dr. Phil Primetime” June 9 and 10.
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McGraw, 74, who was tapped last month to serve on Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, also taped an interview with the president’s border czar and Acting ICE Director Tom Homan.
In a segment of the sit-down that aired on Monday morning, McGraw pressed Homan about what might happen if a demonstrator impedes an ICE agent.
“You can protest and you can hate – shame on you – you can hate what ICE does and who ICE is. You can protest and throw out all the nasty words you want, but you can’t cross that line,” Homan said in the clip, which was posted to X and quickly removed.
“It’s getting out of control. It’s getting to be a significant threat to our officers… We are going to a zero tolerance position.”
The TV shrink previously joined ICE agents and Homan on raids across Chicago in January, where agents attempted to pick 270 “high-value targets” in a seemingly targeted operation.
It comes as Trump officials have repeatedly turned to television to boost attention surrounding immigration enforcement activities this year.
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Following three immigration raids on Friday, ICE officials were met with backlash, and hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Los Angeles Federal Building demanding that they put a stop to their operation and set detainees “free.”
More than 100 protestors were arrested Friday before the Los Angeles Police Department dispersed the crowd.
As more protests erupted Saturday, Homan said that immigration raids would continue and suggested that people could be detained if they interfered with immigration officials.
Approximately 300 National Guard troops were dispersed over three locations in Greater Los Angeles on Sunday morning as violent clashes continued through the day.
By late Sunday evening, the LAPD said that there had been reports of looting in the city, with videos circulating online.
By Sunday evening, Trump renewed calls to “BRING IN THE TROOPS.”
