Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down in Tears (Again) Over ICE — Calls Federal Agents “Goons”

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Jimmy Kimmel grew emotional during his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, this week while discussing the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse from Minneapolis. Pretti was killed during an operation involving federal ICE agents enforcing immigration laws, and Kimmel shared his feelings on the tragedy.

This segment showed Jimmy Kimmel setting aside jokes to focus on political issues. He discussed video footage from Minneapolis and several times had to pause while on air to regain his composure.

Like many of you, I spent the weekend glued to my phone, shocked and disturbed by the events unfolding in Minneapolis. It was just one upsetting video after another.

What Happened in Minneapolis

The speech focused on the death of Alex Pretti, which happened while Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were carrying out their duties. Federal authorities are still investigating what happened, and haven’t yet said if anyone did anything wrong.

Kimmel didn’t just express sympathy or worry. He strongly criticized the agents involved, using very strong and accusatory language to describe them.

During his show, Kimmel described the perpetrators as a group of badly trained and poorly led individuals committing one terrible act after another. He labeled them as ‘goons’ responsible for cruel, heartless, and potentially criminal behavior.

Those comments represented Kimmel’s own opinions, and weren’t part of any official report, agent statements, or investigation results.

Political Framing and Escalation

Kimmel then connected the situation in Minneapolis to larger political issues, specifically speaking to those who support Donald Trump.

Kimmel questioned if the current state of affairs was what people expected when they voted, asking, “Is this the law and order you wanted?” He also called for more moderate and sensible voices within the Republican party, urging them to step up and demonstrate courage.

He later added bluntly, “Every day is a nightmare now.”

The host shared that these events have affected his family personally, explaining that his relatives in Minneapolis are now afraid to go about their daily lives.

Kimmel explained that people are scared to send their children to school and even go to work. He added that he could only imagine how much more frightening this situation must be for people of color.

ICE Enforcement Data Absent From the Monologue

Kimmel’s opening remarks centered on strong emotional content and his own frustration, but he didn’t mention any official information released about the federal government’s work in Minneapolis.

Since it began in December 2025, the immigration enforcement effort—known as Operation Metro Surge—has led to around 3,000 arrests, according to the Department of Homeland Security and local news reports.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that some of those arrested had significant criminal records, including convictions for violent crimes and sex offenses. An analysis of ICE data by local news organizations found approximately 200 individuals categorized by federal authorities as “the worst of the worst” – those with histories of serious crimes like homicide, assault, and sexual offenses.

Reports showed that many of those arrested had previously been convicted of sex offenses, and others had a history of violent crimes. Federal officials say a main goal of this operation is to improve public safety by removing these individuals from communities.

These statistics don’t settle the debate about what happened in Minneapolis, or explain whether the force used was justified. But they do offer helpful background on the larger police operation and its objectives – information that wasn’t mentioned when Kimmel spoke on television.

A Familiar Pattern of On-Air Emotion

Jimmy Kimmel’s recent monologue was well-received by his fans, who saw it as a courageous statement. However, it also brought renewed attention to a common criticism: Kimmel often appears to get emotional and cry on television when discussing sensitive political or career-related issues.

This wasn’t the first time this happened. Kimmel had a similar emotional moment on air after the 2020 presidential election – a clip that became widely shared and represented a growing trend of more heartfelt and vulnerable moments in late-night comedy.

He broke down crying on air after a short suspension caused by spreading false information about the person accused of attacking Charlie Kirk. Like this recent incident, viewers doubted whether his emotional reaction was sincere or a calculated move.

As a longtime movie and TV watcher, I’ve noticed a trend with Jimmy Kimmel – it seems like whenever things get tough for him, like a scandal, bad reviews, or falling viewership, that’s when we get those really emotional on-air moments. It’s starting to feel less like genuine feeling and more like he’s putting on a show, you know? It’s a perception a lot of critics share, and it’s making those moments feel a bit calculated instead of heartfelt.

Those who defend Kimmel point out he’s always been open with his feelings, and this recent display seems genuine, not a planned move.

Divided Audience, Familiar Outcome

Whether he meant to or not, Jimmy Kimmel crying on television has become a signature part of how the public sees him, and it’s something viewers either connect with or dislike.

I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the recent emotional moments on late-night TV. Some people feel like it makes the host seem more relatable and human, especially when dealing with tough topics. But others worry that these emotional displays are taking the place of actual jokes, thoughtful commentary, and a sense of composure – things I really appreciate in late-night shows.

How people react to Jimmy Kimmel’s recent emotional monologue will likely depend on whether they already trust him. That trust seems to be fading for many viewers.

With the investigation into the events in Minneapolis still ongoing, discussions are also continuing about how immigration laws are enforced, how the media presents stories, and whether late-night TV shows are becoming more focused on politics than on making people laugh.

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2026-01-27 20:02