CNN Host Compares Immigration Enforcement to Horror Films

CNN’s Audie Cornish recently made a bold connection between heightened immigration enforcement in cities like Chicago and a scene from a horror film, suggesting that ICE could “kidnap” parents out with their trick-or-treaters.

On Friday’s episode of “CNN This Morning,” a clip from Cornish’s podcast, “The Assignment,” was shared, featuring a conversation with filmmaker Tanarive Due. They discussed how modern horror films address fears surrounding invasion, race, and gender in ways politics often cannot.

Cornish reflected, “Perhaps that’s why it feels so complex—when something is so deliberately political, like a ‘take the rich’ horror theme. It almost diminishes it, when you are confronted with the weight of current political issues.”

After the clip was aired, Cornish drew parallels between the horror hit “Get Out” and the ongoing immigration crackdowns. She mentioned a scene in the film where someone is kidnapped and noted, “I thought about this Chicago mandate. It made me think, ‘ICE, don’t go trick-or-treating.’ Imagine if that became a raid scene. It’s a horrifying thought, losing a parent during Halloween.”

Another panelist, Lulu Garcia-Navarro from The New York Times, chimed in, observing that while earlier films provided an escape, today’s horror narratives reflect real-life fears and experiences.

Garcia-Navarro elaborated, “We used to seek a way to escape. Now, horror series are a reflection of our realities, making them easier to process.” She suggested people want to confront their fears instead of fleeing from them, albeit in a different way.

She also mentioned that “Get Out,” while categorized as a horror film, tackles themes of racism and was notable for not featuring the typical horror tropes associated with the genre.

In recent cinematic discussions, 2025’s “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, faced scrutiny for its overtly political themes amidst ongoing discourse on authoritarianism in the U.S. The film features a group of self-styled revolutionaries battling perceived authoritarianism, carrying out dramatic actions like chasing immigrants from detention centers.

Despite some critics raising concerns about its portrayal of political violence, the movie has performed well, grossing over $100 million since its September release and earning acclaim as the highest-rated film of the year on Metacritic.