Saturday Night Live marked its 1,000th regular episode with a provocative cold open featuring Pete Davidson, who returned to lampoon Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid ongoing unrest in Minneapolis. Davidson reprised his role as White House Border Czar Tom Homan in a sketch highlighting tensions around ICE’s response to recent events in Minnesota, a key moment for both the show and the comedian.
Portraying Tom Homan, Davidson used sharp satire to call out ICE leadership and their controversial conduct, spotlighting how the agency’s mission has been questioned publicly.
Satirical Cold Open Challenges ICE’s Mission and Conduct
In the sketch, Davidson’s character begins by acknowledging his appointment: “My name is Tom Homan,” setting the tone as he explains his arrival was
“in response to the chaotic situation in Minnesota”
where he meets with ICE unit commanders “to clarify the mission objectives.”
Davidson’s monologue quickly shifts to a biting critique of his predecessor, played with dark humor:
“Now I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why Greg Bovino, the last guy, was dismissed. I wanna stress that it wasn’t because he did a bad job or publicly lied about the shooting of an American citizen or even, oh, dressed like a Nazi. It was that he was filmed doing these things.” — Pete Davidson, portraying Tom Homan
This critique underlines the gravity of recent real-world incidents involving former ICE agents amid public backlash.
Davidson’s character then attempts to steer his team toward a clearer understanding of their purpose. When asked why they are in Minneapolis, the agents’ responses—“Pass” and
“This could be wrong, but Army”
—reflect confusion or detachment from their official duties.
Tom Homan pushes forward, reminding the agents:
“We’re here to detain and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes,”
a statement met with skepticism from one character who responds,
“That is literally the first I’m hearing of that.”
Highlighting the disconnect between public perception and agency actions, Davidson insists,
“Forget everything you were told before. We’re not here to intimidate, racially profile or violate anyone’s rights.”
But when asked what they are looking for, an agent humorously replies, “Epstein files.”
“Nope, we actually just released those to distract from this, you know, which is ironic because we did this to distract from those.” — Pete Davidson, portraying Tom Homan
The self-referential joke calls attention to media distractions amid controversial government actions.
Davidson’s Ongoing Connection with SNL and Recent Appearances
After serving as an SNL cast member from 2014 to 2022, Pete Davidson has continued to participate in the show as a guest and host. This cold open marked his second appearance in season 51, following a November 8 cameo on the Weekend Update segment, where he exchanged jokes with Colin Jost about a ferry they had purchased.
Davidson, known for blending personal experiences with social commentary, used his platform to address urgent political topics through satire.
Highlights from the Jan. 31 Episode: Alexander Skarsgård’s Hosting Debut and Guest Appearances
The episode also featured Alexander Skarsgård making his hosting debut on SNL, delivering a humorous monologue that poked fun at his Swedish roots:
“Now, when I was a kid, I loved watching this show from my igloo back in Stockholm.”
He joked that he focused more on the band than the host during monologues and later joined the band to play saxophone.
“But during these monologues, I would never focus on the host,” he continued. “I was more interested in the band back there in the background, sometimes laughing, more often than not.” — Alexander Skarsgård
Skarsgård’s father, Oscar-nominated actor Stellan Skarsgård, made surprise appearances in two sketches, including one where he and Chloe Fineman portrayed Swedish siblings sharing family troubles before meeting their father in a bathtub, and another in SNL’s “Immigrant Dad Talk Show” sketch, joined by Cardi B.
Cardi B returned as both the musical performer and a character’s wife in the immigrant-themed sketch, adding to the night’s mix of humor and social commentary.
Announcement of Upcoming Hosts and Tributes on SNL
Following the episode, SNL revealed that Connor Storrie, star of Heated Rivalry, will host on February 28, with Mumford & Sons as the musical guest. The show also honored Catherine O’Hara with a tribute as part of season 51’s lineup, which has already included prominent names like Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Ariana Grande, and Melissa McCarthy.
Significance of Davidson’s Return Amid Political and Social Turmoil
Pete Davidson’s reappearance to satirize ICE comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over immigration policies and law enforcement actions. His portrayal of Tom Homan underscores the disconnect between official narratives and public perception, using humor to expose contradictions and accountability issues within ICE.
As tensions in Minneapolis and across the country continue to evolve, such cultural commentary on a platform like SNL highlights the ongoing societal debate over immigration enforcement, government transparency, and civil rights.
Alexander Skarsgård’s monologue! pic.twitter.com/Zd9bftXevB
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 1, 2026
