Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) compared federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis to violent authoritarian crackdowns during a fiery appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity.” In a tense exchange with host Sean Hannity, Moulton defended protesters and condemned what he characterized as a disturbing normalization of excessive force by federal agents.
“I’ve broken a taillight before. I don’t think I should be executed for it,” Moulton said, referencing the shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent. He pushed back against claims that Pretti’s earlier aggressive behavior toward law enforcement justified the fatal response, arguing that being confrontational or destructive should not amount to a death sentence.
Moulton took the comparison further: “Do you blame the protesters in Iran for inciting the violence that’s gotten thousands of them killed? … I don’t think that’s right, Sean. I don’t think that’s very American.” He framed the actions of federal officers as indicative of a larger trend toward authoritarianism, drawing parallels between ICE operations and historic examples of state repression.
When Hannity challenged Moulton by citing protesters allegedly doxing officers and engaging in violence, Moulton dismissed the notion that such incidents justified deadly force. “Kicking a taillight is attacking an officer? … I don’t think you should be executed for kicking a taillight.”
Moulton’s comments have added fuel to the intensifying national debate over immigration enforcement and federal policing, especially following the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. While Republicans have defended ICE agents as upholding the law against violent offenders, Democrats like Moulton are framing the response as a human rights issue — one that calls into question the moral compass of current enforcement policy.
