The family of Thomas Kinkade is calling out the Department of Homeland Security for attempting to use the late artist’s work to promote “division and xenophobia.”

The Kinkade Family Foundation sent a cease-and-desist letter to DHS, demanding it remove a social media post featuring Kinkade’s painting “Morning Pledge,” in which an American flag flies above a suburban neighborhood.

In the July 1 social media post, DHS wrote “Protect the Homeland” along with a photo of the painting — without permission of the descendants of the artist, who died in 2012. The foundation told HuffPost on Tuesday that DHS has not responded to the cease-and-desist and wrote on their website that they “strongly condemn” DHS’s messaging.

“Like many of you, we were deeply troubled to see this image used to promote division and xenophobia associated with the ideals of DHS, as this is antithetical to our mission,” the foundation said in a statement. “We stand firmly with our communities who have been threatened and targeted by DHS, especially our immigrant, BIPOC, undocumented, LGBTQ+, and disabled relatives and neighbors.”

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for DHS, told HuffPost in a statement that the agency is featuring art that “celebrates America’s heritage and history.”

“If the media needs a history lesson on the brave men and women who blazed the trails and forged this republic from the sweat of their brow, we are happy to send them a history textbook,” McLaughlin said. “This administration is unapologetically proud of American history and American heritage.”

Since President Donald Trump, who ran on the platform of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, took office in January, DHS’s social media pages have posted memes and other content featuring American symbols along with racist messaging. The latest instance was Tuesday, when DHS posted on X a painting of Uncle Sam along with the text, “America has been invaded by criminals and predators. We need YOU to get them out.”

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Other artists have already called out DHS for using their work without consent. On July 14, DHS posted one of Morgan Weistling’s paintings called “A Prayer For A New Life” (though DHS wrote it was titled “New Life in a New Land”) along with the caption “Remember your Homeland’s Heritage.” On Weistling’s website, he wrote that the painting, which he painted in 2020, was used without his permission.

“This painting is about two parents out on the trail in a covered wagon and on their journey with a baby,” Weistling captioned “A Prayer For A New Life” on his website. “They are depicted here praying to God for his fragile life on their perilous journey.”

Several right-wing talking heads have celebrated DHS’s messaging on its social media pages, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), who reposted DHS’s post of Weistling’s painting along with a praying hands emoji. Benny Johnson, a right-wing commentator and YouTuber, reposted DHS’s post with Kinkade’s painting, captioning it “Beautiful.”