Fox News host Sean Hannity said federal immigration authorities should reconsider conducting enforcement raids at places like Home Depot, arguing that while immigration laws must be enforced, such operations create poor optics and distract from more serious public safety priorities.
Hannity made the remarks Monday on The Sean Hannity Show on Premiere Radio Networks as immigration enforcement has come under intense scrutiny following two fatal shootings involving federal agents earlier this month. Those incidents have placed Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at the center of national attention.
On Saturday, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. According to reports, Pretti was legally carrying a concealed firearm and had a permit to do so. Agents removed the holstered weapon from him and then fired 10 shots, killing him. Earlier in the month, another fatal encounter occurred when ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good as she attempted to drive away from agents, firing three times.
Both shootings happened as the Trump administration intensified deportation efforts in Minnesota and other parts of the country. As part of that push, immigration agents have been conducting raids at locations where undocumented immigrants are believed to be working or seeking employment. That includes Home Depot stores, where day laborers often gather in hopes of finding work.
While Hannity strongly criticized Democratic immigration policies and reaffirmed the need to enforce U.S. law, he cautioned that workplace raids targeting people seeking jobs are counterproductive.
“Now, is ICE perfect? They’re not. Can they do a better job? They can,” Hannity said. He acknowledged that enforcement agencies can improve their approach and questioned whether raids at retail locations make sense.
“Do I think that going into Home Depots and arresting people there is a good idea? I don’t,” Hannity said.
Hannity argued that individuals who are working or looking for work are not the most urgent threat facing the country, even if they are in the country illegally. He said enforcement priorities should focus on more serious offenders rather than creating chaotic scenes that inflame tensions.
“I don’t think that people that — if you’re working at a place, you’re not the immediate problem,” Hannity said. He added that while immigration laws must ultimately be respected, there should be a more orderly and humane process for addressing those cases.
Hannity floated an alternative approach, suggesting a structured program that would allow undocumented immigrants to come forward voluntarily. Under such a system, he said, individuals could be provided transportation back to their home countries and offered a financial incentive, such as a $2,000 check, before being given the opportunity to apply to return legally.
He said those individuals could then be vetted, undergo health screenings, and be evaluated to ensure they would not become a financial burden on taxpayers. Hannity described that process as a more responsible and reasonable way to address illegal immigration while maintaining border security and respect for the law.
The comments came as signs emerged that the administration itself recognizes problems with how some enforcement operations have been handled. On Monday, the Trump administration withdrew controversial Border Patrol official Greg Bovino and some of his agents from Minneapolis, a move seen as an acknowledgment that the situation on the ground had escalated.
Hannity’s remarks reflect a growing debate within conservative circles over how best to enforce immigration laws without undermining public support or triggering unnecessary confrontations. While backing the broader goal of border security and deportation of those who violate the law, Hannity made clear that strategy and optics matter, especially as enforcement actions increasingly draw national scrutiny.
[READ MORE: Report Says DHS Messaging After Pretti Shooting Sparks Anger Among Enforcement Ranks]
