The Department of Homeland Security has begun vetting a reality TV show pitch called “The American,” in which immigrants could compete in a string of challenges to win U.S. citizenship. As reported by the Daily Mail, Rob Worsoff’s 35-page pitch states the show aims to “celebrate what it means to be American and have a national conversation about what it means to be American, through the eyes of the people who want it most.” Worsoff is best known for producing “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” “Duck Dynasty” and “The Biggest Loser.”

The pitch says that contestants will compete “for the honor of fast-tracking their way to U.S. citizenship.” It proposes that 12 pre-vetted contestants arrive at Ellis Island in New York aboard a vessel named “The Citizen Ship.” The show’s host—ideally a “famous, naturalized American”—will welcome them on shore with the gift of a personalized baseball glove.

Contestants would then travel through 12 states aboard a train called “The American” to compete in themed contests, including balancing on logs in Hayward, Wisconsin, making pizza in New York, and launching a rocket in Florida. Each episode would culminate in a town hall-style vote, which Worsoff hopes will be like a “presidential election.”

“We’ll join in the laughter, tears, frustration, and joy—hearing their backstories—as we are reminded how amazing it is to be American,” the pitch claims.

The losers will be awarded “iconically American” prizes, including a million American Airlines points, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, and a lifetime supply of 76 gasoline. They will also be given a leg up in the immigration process, which can take years to complete, and the winner will be sworn in as an American citizen by a senior political figure on Capitol Hill.

“There won’t be a dry eye within 10 miles,” the pitch asserts.

Worsoff claimed during his interview that the DHS seems to be “seriously considering” the show.

Officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (ICE) – the same masked agents who are allegedly snatching people from their homes without due process – are reportedly being considered as the group to tally votes in each episode.

The pitch comes at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration is enforcing a fierce crackdown on U.S. immigration, attempting to end birthright citizenship, pursuing mass deportations, and shutting down asylum access.

On Friday, the Supreme Court barred the Trump Administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify the deportation of alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador. The court argued that these migrants who had already been deported under this scheme were only given 24 hours to get legal advice and that they were offered no information on “how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal.”

This ruling extends the Supreme Court’s April emergency order, barring Trump from using the antiquated wartime law to deport migrants currently held in a detention center in Texas.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the DHS has requested that 20,000 members of the National Guard be sent to support its deportation program. According to the New York Times, the request came after Trump asked the DHS to requisition officers from state or federal agencies to increase their deportation force by that same amount. If this were to go ahead, it would be the first time in the history of the United States that National Guard troops are used to enforce an immigration crackdown.

Given this societal and political context, Worsoff’s proposed TV show has already been widely criticized. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, described it as “a sick idea” on MSNBC on Saturday. “During this Trump Administration, it seems like every day we lose more and more of our humanity,” Castro said. “The idea that you would do a reality show and have people compete for citizenship, it’s just sick, a sick idea.” New York Rep. Jerry Nadler of the Democratic Party said: “Human lives are not game show props.”

According to the Daily Mail, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been working with Worsoff on the pitch and wants “The American” to be given the go-ahead.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied Noem’s involvement to the Daily Beast, as she had previously on social media, saying that Noem is “not even aware of the pitch.”