In a biting satirical sketch for Saturday Night Live's landmark 1000th episode, former cast member Pete Davidson returned to the iconic show to deliver a scathing impersonation of border czar Tom Homan. The cold open featured Davidson's Homan attempting to rally a group of federal immigration agents during a fictional pep talk set in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Satirical Take on ICE Operations
The sketch arrives at a particularly tense moment in American immigration policy. Just days before the broadcast, President Donald Trump deployed the real Tom Homan to Minnesota to help defuse escalating tensions. Minneapolis has emerged as the epicenter of the president's mass deportation campaign, with federal immigration officers carrying out hundreds of arrests and several fatal shootings that have sparked international outrage.
Davidson's 'Reasonable Adult' Homan
Davidson's portrayal presented a Homan who appeared exasperated by the incompetence surrounding him. "It's crazy that I appear to be the only reasonable adult present," Davidson's character quipped to the bumbling agents played by other SNL cast members. The agents consistently failed to grasp their basic mission, with one suggesting their purpose was to "wild out" and another incorrectly guessing they were part of the "Army."
An exasperated Davidson, as Homan, delivered one of the sketch's most memorable lines: "Look, I'm Tom Homan, OK? I'm the 'separating families at the border guy.' I'm the 'on-film taking a $50,000 bribe guy.' And y'all are making me look like the upstanding, reasonable adult in the room. That's crazy." This dialogue cleverly referenced Homan's controversial role in Trump's first administration and allegations of bribery that he has consistently denied.
Real-World Context in Minneapolis
The sketch's Minneapolis setting carries significant real-world weight. On Thursday, just days before the SNL broadcast, the actual Tom Homan announced "massature changes" would be coming to Minneapolis after reaching an agreement with local and state officials. These changes would "draw down" the number of federal agents in the city, which has become the focal point of Trump's aggressive anti-immigration agenda.
Davidson's Homan addressed the dismissal of Greg Bovino, the previous official in charge, with biting sarcasm: "I want to stress that it wasn't because he did a bad job, or publicly lied about the shooting of an American citizen, or even, uh-oh, dressed like a Nazi. It was that he was filmed doing these things."
Agents' Blunt Self-Assessment
In perhaps the most revealing moment of the sketch, when Davidson's Homan asked "What did we learn today?" one agent responded with startling bluntness: "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?"
To which Davidson's character could only reply: "Oh come on, man. Don't start thinking now." This exchange perfectly captured the show's critique of what it portrays as systemic issues within immigration enforcement.
Political Timing and Commentary
The sketch's timing is particularly noteworthy, airing as Minneapolis remains ground zero for contentious immigration enforcement actions. Homan, who previously served under former President Barack Obama before becoming a key figure in Trump's immigration apparatus, finds himself at the center of both real policy debates and satirical treatment.
Saturday Night Live's 1000th episode thus used its considerable platform to offer pointed commentary on current events, blending sharp political satire with the show's trademark comedic style while highlighting the very real tensions playing out in American cities like Minneapolis.
