Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., publicly rebuked Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner on Sunday, telling him to “lighten up, Francis” after Krasner criticized Fetterman’s response to Krasner’s controversial remarks about federal immigration agents.
The exchange stems from Krasner’s recent comparison of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Nazis — comments that drew bipartisan condemnation. Krasner said last week that a “small bunch of wannabe Nazis” within ICE could be outnumbered in a nation of 350 million people, and suggested those individuals could be tracked down “the way they hunted down Nazis.”
Fetterman, speaking on Fox News, rejected Krasner’s inflammatory analogy and urged the DA to temper his rhetoric. “He really ought to lighten up, Francis,” Fetterman said, referencing the 1981 comedy Stripes. He called the “tough talk” from Krasner’s office “pandering to people.”
While Fetterman and Krasner clearly disagree, Fetterman emphasized they do not align on every issue, acknowledging differences in views on immigration enforcement. Fetterman publicly supports deporting criminal migrants and securing the U.S. border, even if he opposes some of ICE’s tactics — a position that separates him from both left-wing activists who want ICE abolished and from those who reflexively defend federal law enforcement.
Fetterman’s response comes amid broader tensions within the Democratic Party over immigration policy and the role of federal agencies. Several Democrats have condemned Krasner’s comparison as inappropriate, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who labeled the rhetoric “abhorrent” and unacceptable.
The clash highlights a larger debate about how immigration enforcement should be discussed in public discourse. Krasner’s remarks drew sharp criticism from members of both parties for likening federal agents to Nazis — a comparison many view as historically offensive and politically divisive. Fetterman’s critique of Krasner reflects an effort to distance himself from more extreme language while still advocating for reform.
This episode also underscores growing fractures in how Democratic elected officials address immigration and law enforcement issues. Some progressives push for dismantling or sharply limiting agencies like ICE, while more moderate Democrats seek to balance border security with reform and humanitarian concerns. Fetterman’s comments suggest he is trying to occupy the latter position, rejecting comparisons he believes undermine constructive debate.
