Hannity and Khanna Spar Over ICE and Immigration Rhetoric

On Thursday, Fox News host Sean Hannity engaged in a heated debate with Democratic California Representative Ro Khanna regarding the agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Hannity presented a detailed list, spanning 16 pages, of criminal illegal immigrants arrested by ICE in Minnesota. These arrests included serious offenses like rape, aggravated assault, and drug possession. He challenged Khanna for not denouncing comments by some Democrats equating ICE agents with Nazis, and for failing to express solidarity with families who have suffered losses due to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

“Why don’t we lower the temperature in this country, reduce the rhetoric, think about how we enforce our immigration laws, and not have ICE officers?” Khanna responded, suggesting a more temperate approach.

Hannity, however, countered with, “How about you let ICE do its job and you support law enforcement? Your party is demonizing them. We call them Nazis, Gestapo, fascists, and terrorists,” highlighting a disconnect between the two sides. He pressed Khanna, accusing him of not speaking out against the harsh rhetoric from Democratic leaders.

Khanna later pointed out that Republicans have similarly labeled undocumented immigrants as “rapists and murderers.” Hannity then reminded him that he remained silent regarding families like Laken Riley’s and Jocelyn Nangaray’s during President Trump’s speech to Congress in March 2025.

“Have you denounced Republican rhetoric that calls immigrants rapists and murderers?” Hannity asked. Khanna acknowledged that there’s excessive rhetoric from both parties, asserting, “Some of them are murderers and rapists.” He raised concerns about actions taken during Trump’s address, implying that families should have been honored by mentioning their loved ones.

The tragic cases of Riley and Nangaray—both victims of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants—were also discussed. Specifically, Riley was killed in February 2024 by a Venezuelan national, while Nangaray was brutally attacked in Texas.

Democratic leaders have often used provocative language when discussing ICE. For instance, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had described ICE agents as Donald Trump’s “modern-day Gestapo.” Oregon Representative Maxine Dexter echoed these sentiments, stating that ICE contributes to “fear, chaos, and brutality” across the country after a Border Patrol shooting.

Khanna argued that ICE must act within constitutional bounds, citing the shooting of a woman named Renee Good, who died during a confrontation with an ICE agent. The incident involved her advancing her vehicle towards the agent, despite being instructed to exit the car.

In a related matter, an ICE officer was recently assaulted during a traffic stop, in which a police officer shot one of three illegal immigrants who attacked him with a snow shovel.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, assaults against ICE officers increased dramatically since January 20, 2025, with a staggering rise of 1,300% in total assaults and 3,200% in vehicular assaults.