SteveTheGamer55 is live on YouTube right now, engaging his 4.6 million subscribers with a GTA 5 RP session. This mod of Grand Theft Auto 5 lets players role-play different scenarios. He kicks things off by saying, “Really wanna show you guys some real-life scenarios,” giving a glimpse into his character—a man navigating his work life on a visa. It doesn’t take long before his character’s routine is interrupted: an SUV veers onto the sidewalk, and masked ICE agents jump out and surround him. “Stop right there,” one of them demands. Shouting players intervene, calling out the agents and insisting on his release. After some intense moments, he hands over his ID and is finally let go.
Later in the stream, SteveTheGamer55 finds himself at an imposing iron gate resembling those seen at ICE detention centers, with more in-game agents around him. Using his phone to record, he hears a player in a red suit demand a warrant for their client.
This “special event” on November 20, which simulated ICE raids through various roles, was the first initiative from New Save Collective, a group of 13 gamers with activist backgrounds. Their aim? To educate players on their rights regarding ICE interactions. On November 21 at 7:30 pm ET, gamers will meet in Fortnite for a closed scavenger hunt that offers a more relaxed way to learn. They’re collaborating with several immigration advocacy organizations and content creators to amplify their message.
While online gaming spaces have often been a platform for spreading conservative or extremist views, there’s a shift happening. The U.S. military has acknowledged its use of gaming as a recruitment tool, and immigration authorities have dabbled in similar strategies. In October, the Department of Homeland Security shared a post mimicking marketing from the Halo series, tweeting “Finishing this fight,” alongside an image styled after the game’s iconic supersoldiers. They’ve even parodied Pokémon, using its “gotta catch ’em all” tagline in a video that featured ICE agents making arrests and destroying property.
A spokesperson from DHS stated that they aim to reach people with relatable content, whether it be through Halo, Pokémon, or even The Lord of the Rings. In contrast to movements like Gamergate, which were marred by harassment and exclusion, the New Save Collective strives to create a community that is welcoming and focused on positive impact.
“Most of us are immigrants, or children of immigrants, or children of refugees,” shares an organizer known as PitaBreadFace (who requested anonymity for safety reasons). “We’re here at this stage in the political climate to cultivate some belonging, but also move people towards a shared purpose that everyone seems pretty hungry for.”
