A Thursday night segment on Fox News turned into a heated confrontation as host Sean Hannity and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna clashed over political rhetoric surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the agency’s recent enforcement actions.
The debate centered on the language used by political leaders to describe federal agents and the response to violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Hannity opened the exchange by presenting a document listing arrests made by ICE in Minnesota, highlighting charges ranging from rape to aggravated assault. RELATED: ICE Sweeps Minnesota: Convicted Murderers, Child Predators Arrested Amid Heated Tension
He pressed Khanna on why he hasn’t explicitly condemned fellow Democrats who have used terms like “Nazis,” “Gestapo,” and “fascists” to describe immigration officials.
“How about you let ICE do their job and you support law enforcement?” Hannity asked, arguing that demonizing language is “inciting and dehumanizing these officials” who are currently facing attacks in the field.
Khanna pushed back, calling for a de-escalation of political hostility.
“Why don’t we lower the temperature in this country, lower the rhetoric, figure out how we enforce immigration laws, but not have ICE agents shooting Americans,” Khanna responded.
The Congressman’s comment appeared to reference the recent shooting of Renee Good. According to reports and footage from the incident, Good was shot by an agent after she blocked the road and struck him with her vehicle. RELATED: New Graphic POV Video Released In Deadly Minneapolis ICE Shooting
Authorities noted that Good refused orders to exit the car, and her passenger was heard urging her to drive. The agent involved, Jonathan Ross, sustained internal bleeding from the impact.
Khanna attempted to pivot the conversation to GOP rhetoric, asking Hannity if he condemned Republicans who broadly label immigrants as “rapists and murderers.”
“Some of them are murderers and rapists,” Hannity countered, before shifting the focus to Khanna’s actions during President Donald Trump’s joint session address in March 2025.
Hannity criticized the Representative for remaining seated when the families of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray were recognized. Riley was killed in February 2024 by a Venezuelan national, while Nungaray was murdered in June 2024 by two men in the country illegally.
“You didn’t get off your a** when it came to Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray,” Hannity said. “You could have stood up for their families… You should care about getting rid of pedophiles, murderers, rapists, traffickers, gang members.”
The clash comes amid heightened tensions and a reported spike in violence against federal immigration agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released data indicating a 1,300% surge in assaults against ICE agents since January 20, 2025, with vehicular attacks rising by 3,200%.
Recent incidents include the assault on an agent involving a snow shovel during a traffic stop, which resulted in the officer shooting one of the suspects in the leg.
Democratic officials have continued to heavily criticize the agency’s tactics. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz previously referred to agents as a “modern-day Gestapo.”
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