Fox News heavyweight Sean Hannity has broken ranks with President Trump over the escalating immigration raids, becoming the latest MAGA-aligned figure to call for a course correction as chaos unfolds on the streets of Minneapolis.
On his nationally syndicated radio show Monday, Hannity, 64, didn’t hold back, admitting that while Immigration and Customs Enforcement plays a critical role, the optics of recent federal actions — including ICE agents storming workplaces like Home Depot — are doing more harm than good. “Is ICE perfect? They’re not. Can they do a better job? They can,” Hannity said, calling for a “more responsible, reasonable way” to handle undocumented immigrants.
His comments come on the heels of a national firestorm after two U.S. citizens were killed in Minnesota by federal agents in less than a month — the latest being ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, who was shot and killed during an anti-ICE protest. Border Patrol officers reportedly disarmed Pretti — who legally owned the firearm — before opening fire. That shooting, captured on video, has sent shockwaves through the country.
And Hannity’s not the only one throwing the brakes. Republican Governors Phil Scott of Vermont and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma also blasted the administration. Scott labeled Pretti’s death “murder” and accused the federal government of inciting violence against its own citizens. “At worst, it’s a deliberate federal intimidation… Enough is enough,” he wrote.
Governor Stitt warned that Trump’s immigration crackdown is starting to alienate Americans. “What’s the endgame? What’s the solution?” he asked on CNN. “Americans don’t like what we’re seeing right now.”
That growing chorus of concern appears to have rattled the Trump team. Over the weekend, President Trump pulled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem off ICE operations after she called Pretti’s death “domestic terror.” Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, another key figure in the aggressive raids, was also sidelined. Their dismissals mark a dramatic shakeup at the top of federal immigration enforcement.
In a late-night move, Trump appointed ICE veteran Tom Homan to take over operations in Minnesota, promising tighter control and direct communication with the Oval Office. “Tom is tough but fair,” Trump said. “He will report directly to me.”
The president also held talks with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, signaling a new effort to dial back the federal presence in the state and allow the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to conduct an independent investigation.
This marks a significant political shift. Trump, long known for his hardline immigration stance, now faces pressure from within his own party to rethink strategy after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good — both 37, both killed in federal enforcement actions in the same city.
Whether the damage is already done, politically and on the ground, is the question looming over Washington — and Minneapolis.
