Stephen Colbert receives criticism for his harsh remarks about ICE agents

Stephen Colbert Faces Backlash for Comments on Immigration Agents

Late night comedian Stephen Colbert is drawing criticism for remarks he made regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. During his show on Monday, Colbert suggested that the agents were worse than Nazis for attempting to show their faces.

The segment featured a clip of border guard Gen. Gregory Bovino, who spoke with CNN about how people have been comparing Border Patrol agents and ICE officers to the Gestapo and Nazis. Colbert responded, saying, “Well, don’t compare ICE and Border Patrol agents to Nazis. That’s an unfair comparison. Nazis were happy to show their faces.” This comment prompted loud applause from the audience, but it didn’t take long for critics to express their disapproval on social media.

Actor Michael Rapaport remarked on X that while the situation in Minnesota is serious, likening ICE to Nazis is an offensive joke. He questioned whether Colbert or the audience’s laughter was more inappropriate. Soran Ahmari described the remarks as not only “obscene” but also “ahistorical” and “illiterate.”

Radio host Buck Sexton pointed out that many ICE officers are veterans, emphasizing their service. Joel Petrin, contributing to Newsweek, lamented the loss of engaging content in late-night television and criticized Colbert for trivializing the Holocaust.

In a strong response, musician John Ondrasik called Colbert’s statements “evil” and labeled him an “eternal coward.” Human rights attorney Anne Hertzberg voiced her concern on X, calling Colbert’s comments an attempt to normalize anti-Semitism and diminish the significance of historical atrocities.

Washington Post columnist Mark Thiessen sarcastically praised Colbert’s comments, noting the late show is set to conclude in May. Meanwhile, discussions around ICE and its actions have intensified in Minnesota, with some companies threatening to take action against ICE agents.

Governor Tim Walz compared federal immigration enforcement to the Holocaust and referenced Anne Frank, highlighting the fear gripping children in Minnesota who are afraid to go outside. He made a connection between their fear and the historical persecution faced by Jewish people during World War II.

The U.S. Holocaust Museum condemned Walz’s comparisons, asserting that Anne Frank was targeted and murdered simply for being Jewish. They stressed that exploiting the Holocaust for political gain, particularly during rising anti-Semitism, is profoundly offensive.