Dean Cain sparked a storm at Thursday’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) as he passionately defended his decision to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - a move he revealed he made in August 2025.
The former Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman star, 60, told a packed crowd in Texas that his leap into ICE was motivated by a desire to take action, not just offer words.
‘I’m Dean Cain, and some of you might be wondering why a former Superman actor is on stage at CPAC? Well, the answer is simple. It’s because I believe in truth, justice and the American way,’ he began.
He continued, ‘So what is the American way? Well, for me, number one, individual rights. Number two, equality of opportunity, not outcome. That means no DEI, no CRT. And yes, on merit… no matter your race, your religion, your social status, it doesn’t matter, you earn it.
'Number three, competition. The ability to compete fairly without the government getting in your way. No men in women’s sports.’
Cain then argued that words alone were not enough. ‘Now, the theme here today is action not words. And right now I’m giving you a bunch of words. So what about action? Well, when extremists on the left screamed, “defund the police,” I joined law enforcement. When the leftists shrieked, “defund ICE,” I joined ICE.’
Dean Cain sparked a storm at Thursday’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) as he passionately defended his decision to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - a move he revealed he made in August 2025
The former Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman star, 60, told a packed crowd in Texas that his leap into ICE was motivated by a desire to take action, not just offer words
The 61-year-old also took aim at Hollywood, boasting: ‘And when Hollywood said, “oh my gosh, you’re a conservative, you’re canceled,” I said, “you know what? We’re gonna create a new platform called Proud American Studios, and I’m gonna do a podcast called The Homeland, and I’m gonna celebrate the United States of America, the greatest nation the world has ever known.”’
He closed his speech defiantly, declaring: ‘And we’re gonna fight. We’re gonna fight to keep it that way. So truth, justice, and the American way, okay? God bless you all for being here.’
Cain's impassioned words come after he faced brutal mockery for struggling through an ICE training course last August.
Video showed Cain navigating the obstacle course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia.
The former Superman star sluggishly scaled a wall, crawled on all fours through a barrel, dragged a dummy across the course, and fired guns at a shooting range alongside acting ICE director Todd Lyons.
‘Was the video slowed down?’ one critic asked. Another wrote: ‘So basically when the citizens start fighting back – ICE is screwed.’
A third added: ‘Glad he wants to help but he’s probably not your best candidate tbh.’
Some viewers called the course a ‘kiddy playground’ and ‘utterly embarrassing.’
‘I’m Dean Cain, and some of you might be wondering why a former Superman actor is on stage at CPAC? Well, the answer is simple. It’s because I believe in truth, justice and the American way,’ Cain said
Cain's impassioned words come after he faced brutal mockery for struggling through an ICE training course last August
Despite the backlash, ICE shared Cain’s video alongside a link to their recruitment site, touting incentives including a signing bonus of up to $50,000, $60,000 in student loan repayment, and a 25 percent premium pay bump.
Cain hit back at his critics, insisting: ‘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 initially revealed he would join ICE ‘ASAP’ to ‘help save America’ and backed former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
‘I am a sworn law enforcement officer, as well as being a filmmaker, and I felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans, not just talk about it. So I joined up,’ Cain said.
He continued: ‘If you want to help save America, ICE is arresting the worst of the worst and removing them from America’s streets.
'They need your help, we need your help, to protect our homeland for families. Join today if it’s something that tickles your fancy because we can use you.’
Cain also praised ICE under Trump, claiming the agency had arrested ‘hundreds of thousands of criminals including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers.’
At the time, ICE said it had received 100,000 applications for roughly 10,000 open positions since lifting age caps in a major recruitment drive.
