Pete Davidson returned to SNL in the show’s latest episode, uploaded to YouTube on February 1, 2026, using the cold open as an opportunity to address the ongoing political unrest surrounding ICE. The former actor once again takes on a political role, playing White House border czar Tom Homan in a sketch centered on immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

The sketch references President Donald Trump’s recent decision to send Homan to Minneapolis for oversight ICE operations amid widespread protests and political unrest.

Davidson’s “Saturday Night Live” cold open featured Homan in a room full of visibly confused ICE agents, where he struggled to clarify the agency’s actual purpose while repeatedly urging them not to use force against protesters or destroy evidence.

at a certain moment saturday night live sketchDavidson’s Homan sought to clearly define ICE’s mission.

“We are here to detain and deport illegal immigrants who are committing crimes,” said Pete Davidson.

The sketch escalated when an agent admitted he didn’t know about the directive and that it was “literally the first time” he’d heard it. Davidson’s character immediately retorts, adding “It shouldn’t be like this.”

As the SNL scene continued, Davidson’s Homan again asked the agents what they thought their orders were. One agent’s reaction suggested chaotic and “wild” behavior.

Davidson’s character then attempts to reset the room, explaining:

“You know what, forget everything I told you before. We’re not here to intimidate, racially profile or violate anyone’s rights. So, what are we looking for?”

At this point in the SNL sketch, an agent, in response to Pete Davidson’s question, suggested the answer was “The Epstein Dossier.” This refers to the Justice Department’s recent release on January 30 of another 3 million pages of Epstein documents, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

“No, we’re actually just posting this to distract people. It’s ironic because we’re doing it to distract people,” said Pete Davidson’s Homan.

What else did Pete Davidson’s Tom Homan say to ICE agents in his “Saturday Night Live” sketch?

Pete Davidson He guest-starred on “Saturday Night Live,” delivering biting political satire, and played ICE director Tom Homan in sketches that examined the agency’s strategies, responsibilities and public behavior.

In the sketch, Davidson’s version of Homan asks ICE agents to reconsider the fundamental purpose of their jobs, viewing it as a broader ethical issue related to public safety rather than Execution without a doubt.

“What is this work ultimately designed to protect America from?” Davidson’s Homan asked.

Agent Ahn responded bluntly: “Don Lemon.” The line referenced the real-life arrest of reporter Don Lemon on January 29 in Minnesota while he was reporting on an immigration enforcement operation.

Lemon, now an independent journalist, had been covering protests related to St. Paul’s City Church and was detained along with several others, including journalist Georgia Ford and political activists Traherne Jean Cruz and Jamel Leder Lundy. He was released on Friday, January 31.

The “Saturday Night Live” sketch continues to highlight the apparent double standards that exist for Pete Davidson’s Homan when it comes to law enforcement’s response to armed protests.

He questioned why law enforcement officers seemed to object to protesters being armed in some cases, while seemingly ignoring instances of ICE officers carrying “loaded automatic weapons” at events related to the election denial movement, such as “Stop the Steal” protests.

James Austin Johnson’s ICE agent character sums up the situation with a poignant resignation, suggesting the outcome is inevitable.

He argued that authorities “hired a bunch of angry, aggressive people”, armed them and failed to provide them with adequate training. He further suggested that the resulting behavior may have been something the authorities “wanted to happen.”

towards end of sketchDavidson’s Homan attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, issuing what amounted to a final call for restraint and constitutional responsibility in a pep talk to Secret Service agents.

“Look, things are serious out there and we need to cool down. So, let’s get out there. Let’s show some restraint. Let’s do our jobs without infringing on any American’s rights,” Davidson’s character said on “Saturday Night Live.”

That appeal is immediately undercut when one of the agents, played by Kenan Thompson, responds with a blunt “no,” prompting Davidson’s Homan to admit with dry humor:

“Well, I have to ask… maybe just try not to be photographed?”

The “Saturday Night Live” sketch hosted by Pete Davidson aired amid massive protests and national outrage following the shooting death of a federal agent. Alex Pretty and Renee Goode The incident in Minneapolis sparked widespread backlash and heightened ICE scrutiny.