Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz defended ICE and Border Patrol agents on Saturday, urging them to ignore protesters and continue enforcing immigration laws in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During an appearance on The Big Weekend Show, Chaffetz was asked by co-host Tomi Lahren about the Trump Administration’s recent efforts to deport illegal immigrants in the city. The former Republican representative from Utah said President Trump has a clear “mandate” from the American people to make the country safe. He noted that traffic in Charlotte improved noticeably after federal authorities arrived.
Protests against ICE and Border Patrol have occurred in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago earlier this year. In Charlotte, local reports said more than 30,000 children skipped school after the operation began.
Chaffetz encouraged ICE officers not to be discouraged by the demonstrations. “To the ICE officers and their families and those who work at ERO and Border Patrol — the president has your back… America has your back,” he said.
He added, “These vocal grannies doing role-play in churches and blowing whistles — do not let that get to you. You’re doing the right thing. You’re protecting the United States of America. This is just a handful of yahoos out there protesting.”
Chaffetz also dismissed footage of protestors waving Mexican flags shown on Fox News while he spoke, emphasizing that their actions should not distract agents from their duties.
Co-host Tomi Riggs commented on the broader implications of removing non-citizens who she said “suck resources” from the community. She recalled her experience living near the Upper East Side and Harlem in New York City, where she observed migrants at shelters not participating in work and consuming public resources. Riggs described this as a “societal economic drain” affecting local services like CVS, hospitals, and other public facilities.
Chaffetz’s remarks reflect ongoing political support for federal immigration enforcement efforts, highlighting the tension between authorities carrying out deportation operations and protesters opposing them.
