‘SNL’ Takes Aim at ICE with ‘Bumbling Agents’ Sketch
Saturday Night Live mocked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a sketch that aired on , portraying agents as confused and ill-equipped for their duties. The sketch, which aired during Weekend Update, followed a previous segment that was cut from the prior episode.
The scene featured Pete Davidson portraying Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s border czar, arriving in Minneapolis to address a group of ICE agents. Homan, who replaced a previous border patrol official following incidents in Minneapolis in January, discovered the need for more than just a change in leadership, according to the sketch.
Homan questioned the agents about their mission objective, to which Kenan Thompson, playing one of the agents, responded, “Pass…” The sketch highlighted the agents’ apparent lack of understanding regarding their roles, with one agent admitting it was the first time he had heard of their mission.
Davidson, as Homan, emphasized the importance of following proper procedures and avoiding distractions. He specifically cautioned against searching for “Epstein files,” a reference to Jeffrey Epstein, while on duty. The sketch underscored Homan’s criticism of the agents’ lack of professionalism and comprehension of their responsibilities.
The portrayal of ICE agents on SNL comes after Michael Che, also during Weekend Update, commented on the agency on . Che stated, “I get that ICE agents are people, allegedly. And they have a job to do. But at some point, while you’re pepper spraying old ladies or…”
The sketch also gained traction on social media, with a TikTok video of an “SNL ICE agent falls” moment garnering 174 likes and 6 comments as of .
Social media users also noted Davidson’s resemblance to Homan, with one Facebook post stating that Davidson “shockingly both looked AND sounded like ‘border czar’ Tom Homan on SNL last night!”
The sketch’s focus on unqualified ICE agents follows reports of incidents involving the agency. The show referenced events in Minneapolis where federal agents killed two people, leading to Homan’s appointment.
