Fox News Host Lauds ICE Agents for Detaining 5-Year-Old, Calls Facilities 'Amazing'
In a contentious exchange on Fox News' "The Five," host Jesse Watters defended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday for detaining a 5-year-old boy in Minnesota. Watters praised the agents' "very big hearts" and described detention centers as "amazing," highlighting what he termed "concierge health care services" available to detainees.
Debate Over ICE Practices and Civil Rights Allegations
The discussion erupted after co-host Jessica Tarlov referenced multiple law enforcement agencies and officials who have accused ICE of racially profiling U.S. citizens, violating civil rights, and holding children in detention centers under deplorable conditions. Tarlov, representing the show's liberal perspective, asserted that "ICE is out of control" and urged viewers to heed warnings from law enforcement insiders.
"These detention centers are amazing!" Watters exclaimed during the segment. "You get dental care, you get free health care. Have you ever seen the kind of concierge health care services they have at these detention facilities?"
Tarlov countered by mentioning "Alligator Alcatraz," a Florida detention facility built hastily last year on an isolated airstrip surrounded by wetlands. This site has faced scrutiny for poor conditions and allegations that detainees were denied access to legal counsel.
Case of Liam Conejo Ramos and Broader Implications
The debate centered on the case of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, detained by ICE agents on Tuesday after returning home from school with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. Authorities reported that the father fled but was later apprehended. Watters argued that detaining the child was necessary, stating, "Of course they detained this kid. What are they supposed to do, Jessica, shove him into an orphanage?"
He emphasized a policy of keeping families together during deportation proceedings, saying, "We all agree we don't do family separation, we keep families together so when an illegal is apprehended, you deport the entire family together." The father, who is undocumented, was reportedly given an opportunity to leave the U.S. for Ecuador, and both he and his son were taken to a detention center in Dilley, Texas.
Watters' Praise for ICE Agents and Tarlov's Counterarguments
Watters further commended the ICE agents involved, noting, "And these ICE agents took this kid to lunch! They spent a lot of time with him." He added that agents are experienced in handling families and possess compassion, stating, "They're very experienced, because so many of these illegals came across with children, they're dealing with a lot of these illegal alien families and a lot of these ICE agents have families themselves. And they all have very big hearts."
Tarlov raised additional concerns, citing an incident in Maine where an ICE agent allegedly told a legal observer that she was being photographed for a "nice little database" and labeled a "domestic terrorist." This example underscored her argument that ICE's actions are excessive and improperly targeted.
Ongoing Controversy Over Immigration Enforcement
This episode highlights the deep divisions in American discourse over immigration policy and enforcement. Key points from the debate include:
- Watters' defense of ICE detention practices as humane and well-serviced.
- Tarlov's allegations of civil rights violations and poor conditions in detention centers.
- The specific case of a young child detained, raising ethical questions about family treatment.
- Broader accusations of profiling and overreach by immigration authorities.
As immigration remains a polarizing issue, such televised debates reflect ongoing tensions between enforcement priorities and human rights considerations in the U.S.
