Sean Hannity Criticizes Trump Immigration Policy, Joining Other MAGA Conservatives in Opposition to Raids

Fox News commentator Sean Hannity has criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration strategy, joining a growing number of MAGA conservatives expressing discontent with the nationwide raids.

During Monday’s episode of The Sean Hannity Show on Premiere Radio Networks, Hannity, 64, suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents should handle the apprehension of undocumented immigrants more effectively.

“Is ICE perfect? No, they’re not. Can they improve? Yes, they can,” Hannity remarked, emphasizing the need for better practices.

He further stated, “Some of the optics are not ideal. For instance, I don’t think arresting people in places like Home Depot is the right approach.”

Hannity’s remarks follow the recent incident where a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, was fatally shot by Border Patrol officers during a protest against ICE in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the weekend.

Video showed an agent removing a gun that Pretti lawfully owned and had a valid permit for from his holster before he was gunned down in broad daylight. 

Minneapolis has seen a surge in ICE officers in recent weeks as ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, as she drove away during a protest on January 7. 

Hannity said a ‘program’ that would allow illegal immigrants to ‘come forward’ would ‘be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.’

Fox News host Sean Hannity criticized President Trump’s handling of the ongoing immigration crackdown going on across the country 

His comments come after the Trump administration decided to pull federal agents out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two US citizens were killed by agents within weeks of each other  

‘I don’t think that people that– if you’re working at a place, you’re not the immediate problem. Eventually, we’ll have to deal with those people that didn’t respect our laws, borders, and sovereignty,’ he added.  

‘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.

‘We can vet them. We can do a health check on them and make sure they won’t be a financial burden on the American people. I think that’d be a more responsible, reasonable way to deal with that problem.’ 

In the wake of Pretti’s death, Trump has decided to dismantle the leadership of immigration enforcement, including booting out Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.

He called Noem in for a late-night meeting on Monday after she called the deadly incident involving Pretti ‘domestic terror.’ 

By the end of the night, Noem was ordered to shift her focus away from interior immigration enforcement operations and instead concentrate on securing the Southern Border.

Meanwhile, Bovino was also withdrawn along with scores of his agents. 

Initially, Noem’s adviser and rumored lover Corey Lewandowski elevated Bovino to oversee high-profile immigration raids in U.S. urban centers, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and, most recently, Minneapolis. 

After the death of Alex Pretti on Saturday, Trump decided to dismantle the leadership of ICE enforcement by reassigning Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino

Pretti (left), 37, was tragically shot to death by Border Patrol agents on Saturday in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good (right), also 37, was fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Good on January 7 during a protest in the Minnesota city 

Bovino has since been reassigned and locked out of his government social media accounts. 

Hannity isn’t the only Republican who has voiced his opposition against Trump and his administration, as a conservative Governor called the death of Pretti ‘murder.’ 

‘At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training, and leadership,’ Vermont Governor Phil Scott wrote on X on Monday.

‘At worst, it’s a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that’s resulting in the murder of Americans. Again, enough is enough,’ he added. 

Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, also blasted the White House over the controversial ICE raids following Pretti’s death. 

This is a real tragedy,’ Stitt told CNN on Sunday. ‘I think the death of Americans, what we’re seeing on TV, is causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability. Americans don’t like what we’re seeing right now.’

Stitt added that Trump’s promises of a crackdown on illegal immigration, while still an important priority for many Americans, did not require some of the measures currently being used.

‘Now, Americans are asking themselves, “What’s the endgame? What’s the solution?”‘ he continued.

Hannity isn’t the only Republican who has voiced his opposition against Trump and his administration, as Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, called the death of Pretti ‘murder’ 

Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, also blasted the White House over the controversial ICE raids following Pretti’s death

‘We believe in federalism, states’ rights. Nobody likes feds coming into their state. So, what’s the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.’

When asked if agents should be pulled from the streets in Minnesota, Stitt said it was the president’s call.

‘He’s a dealmaker. He’s getting bad advice right now,’ the governor said. ‘How do we bring this to a conclusion? Only the President can answer that question.’

Trump spent hours on Sunday and Monday watching cable news coverage and was unsettled by how the administration was being portrayed, one official told CNN.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt distanced Trump from Noem’s language regarding the recent death on Monday, arguing that it was not a position that the President had taken. 

Trump has gone on to make Noem’s longtime rival and ICE veteran Tom Homan take charge of the deteriorating operation in Minnesota. 

The president also revealed he had a conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz about what’s going on in the state. 

‘The President agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case,’ Walz’s office said. 

Trump has gone on to make Noem’s longtime rival and ICE veteran Tom Homan to take charge of the deteriorating operation in Minnesota

‘The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.’ 

After appointing Homan to take over, Trump said: ‘I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. 

‘Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.’