SNL mocks ICE and Tom Homan with Pete Davidson in cold open satire

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Saturday Night Live focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota during this week’s cold open, featuring a surprise appearance by former cast member Pete Davidson. Portraying Border Czar Tom Homan, Davidson delivered a sharp monologue that satirized the administration’s response to recent events and highlighted the confusion surrounding the federal deployment in Minneapolis.

Breaking from recent conventions, the sketch did not include an impersonation of Donald Trump. Instead, Davidson’s Homan addressed a group of federal agents directly, starting with a reference to the removal of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who was reassigned shortly after Homan arrived in the city.

Davidson roasts previous commander's dismissal

In the sketch, Davidson’s character, Homan, assured the agents that Bovino was not removed due to incompetence or misconduct. He joked that the commander wasn't dismissed for “doing a bad job” or for “publicly lying about the shooting of an American citizen.”

Davidson’s character further clarified that Bovino was not even removed for controversial behavior; rather, it was a matter of visibility. “It was that he was filmed doing these things,” the character said, adding, “And the president no likey that!” The line framed the reassignment as a concern about public perception rather than policy.

Agents confused by Minneapolis mission

The sketch then shifted its focus to the agents themselves, illustrating their uncertainty about their mission in Minneapolis. When Homan asked why they were deployed there, one agent immediately replied, “Pass.”

When pressed again, another agent tentatively guessed, “Army?” Davidson’s Homan clarified that their task was to detain and deport undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. The clarification was met with mock surprise, with one agent replying that it was “literally the first” time hearing that explanation.

 When pressed again, another agent tentatively guessed, “Army?” Homan clarified that their task was to detain and deport undocumented immigrants who had been convicted of crimes. This clarification was met with mock surprise; with one agent replying that this was “literally the first” time he had heard that explanation.

Homan claims to be reasonable one

Davidson’s portrayal highlighted the irony of Homan being seen as a moderating influence. The character expressed disbelief at being viewed as the stabilizing figure within the enforcement effort.

“I’m the separating families at the border guy,” Davidson’s Homan said, listing controversial actions attributed to the role. He added that the situation made him appear like “the upstanding reasonable adult in the room,” underscoring the sketch’s focus on perceived dysfunction within the operation.

Rare cold open without Trump

The cold open was notable for including a Trump impersonation. Instead, it focused on the bureaucratic turmoil surrounding the deployment of ICE agents. By centering on Homan and the agents, the sketch shifted attention away from the president and placed it on the internal confusion within federal enforcement.

The segment portrayed Homan’s arrival as an attempt to restore order, while using satire to suggest that rather than achieving clarity, expectations had actually been lowered.