On 'S.N.L.,' Tom Homan's Advice to ICE: 'Don't Get Filmed'

The show opened with a sketch mocking the federal agency's tactics in Minneapolis.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 3:47pm

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On the latest episode of 'Saturday Night Live,' the show opened with a sketch featuring Pete Davidson as former ICE director Tom Homan, who was brought in to advise ICE agents in Minneapolis on how to avoid being filmed while carrying out their duties. The sketch satirized the agency's tactics and the recent shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in the city.

Why it matters

The sketch comes after 'SNL' was criticized for barely addressing the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis just hours before the previous episode aired. This opening sketch directly addresses the issues surrounding ICE's presence and actions in the city.

The details

In the sketch, Davidson's Homan gathers a group of ICE agents, played by Kenan Thompson, Andrew Dismukes, and Cecily Strong, to remind them of their mission and warn them about being filmed. The agents struggle to understand their purpose and show a lack of training, with one agent, played by Bowen Yang, thinking their mission is to detain 'Don Lemon.' Homan ultimately tells the agents to try not to get filmed while carrying out their duties.

  • The sketch aired on the February 1, 2026 episode of 'Saturday Night Live'.
  • It came just a week after the previous episode, which was criticized for barely addressing the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The players

Tom Homan

A former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who is portrayed by Pete Davidson in the sketch.

Alex Pretti

An American citizen who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis just hours before the previous episode of 'SNL' aired.

Gregory Bovino

The previous ICE official overseeing operations in Minneapolis, who was dismissed for being filmed doing questionable things.

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What they’re saying

“Remember, the job ultimately is about keeping America safe from — what?”

— Pete Davidson as Tom Homan, Border Czar (SNL)

“This could be wrong, but: that you hired a bunch of angry, aggressive guys, gave us guns and didn't train us, so this is maybe what you wanted to happen?”

— Bowen Yang as ICE Agent (SNL)

What’s next

The sketch highlights ongoing concerns about ICE's tactics and the lack of accountability for their actions, especially in the wake of the shooting of Alex Pretti. It remains to be seen if this will lead to any policy changes or increased oversight of the agency.

The takeaway

The 'SNL' sketch uses dark humor to shine a light on the problematic nature of ICE's operations, the lack of training and oversight of its agents, and the broader issues of police violence and accountability that have plagued communities across the country.