In a significant departure from his typically staunch support, Fox News commentator Sean Hannity has publicly criticised the methods employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Donald Trump's administration. The host of The Sean Hannity Show expressed his concerns during his radio programme, questioning the optics and effectiveness of high-profile raids targeting undocumented immigrants.
Hannity Calls for Policy Rethink Following Fatal Incidents
The political commentator's remarks arrive in the wake of two fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, within a matter of weeks. Hannity, aged 64, explicitly stated that he did not believe arrests at locations like Home Depot represented a sound strategy. 'Now, is ICE perfect? They’re not. Can they do a better job? They can,' Hannity conceded. 'So I think that, you know, some of the optics at times, do I think that going into Home Depots and arresting people there is a good idea? I don’t.'
His commentary follows the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and ICU nurse, who was shot by Border Patrol officers during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis last Saturday. Disturbing video footage reportedly showed an agent removing Pretti's lawfully owned firearm from its holster before the shooting occurred. This incident came shortly after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 7th as she drove away from a protest in the same city.
A Proposed 'Program' for Undocumented Immigrants
Outlining an alternative vision, Hannity suggested a formalised programme where undocumented individuals could voluntarily come forward. 'There’s gotta be a program where people get to come forward. I think they should then be given transportation home. They can get a check for, what, $2,000? And they can apply to come back in the country legally,' he proposed. Hannity argued this system would allow for proper vetting, health checks, and ensure individuals would not become a financial burden, presenting a 'more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.'
Administrative Shake-Up and Mounting Republican Dissent
In response to the escalating crisis, President Trump has initiated a significant reshuffle within immigration enforcement leadership. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had labelled the Pretti incident 'domestic terror,' was called into a late-night meeting and subsequently ordered to refocus her efforts solely on securing the Southern Border, away from interior operations.
Simultaneously, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who was reportedly elevated to oversee major urban raids by Noem's adviser Corey Lewandowski, has been reassigned and locked out of official government communications accounts. Trump has appointed ICE veteran Tom Homan, a longtime rival of Noem, to take charge of the deteriorating situation in Minnesota, stating Homan would report directly to him.
GOP Governors Condemn Federal 'Failure' and 'Murder'
Hannity is not isolated in his criticism from the right. Vermont's Republican Governor, Phil Scott, issued a stark condemnation on social media, describing the operations as a 'complete failure' of public safety coordination and leadership. 'At worst, it's a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that's resulting in the murder of Americans,' Governor Scott wrote.
Oklahoma's Republican Governor, Kevin Stitt, echoed these sentiments in a television interview, calling the events a 'real tragedy' that was causing deep public concern over federal tactics and accountability. 'Americans don't like what we're seeing right now,' Stitt stated, questioning the administration's endgame and suggesting the President was receiving 'bad advice.'
White House Response and Ongoing Fallout
The White House has sought to distance President Trump from Secretary Noem's characterisation of the shooting. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that describing the death as 'domestic terror' was not the President's position. Reports indicate Trump spent hours watching cable news coverage of the fallout, unsettled by the administration's portrayal.
In a move towards de-escalation, the President has reportedly agreed with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to reduce the number of federal agents in the state and ensure an independent investigation into the shootings can proceed. The administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, a cornerstone of Trump's presidency, now faces unprecedented scrutiny from within its own political base, signalling a potential inflection point in both policy and rhetoric.
