Chris Hansen, host of “To Catch a Predator,” discussed in a resurfaced Fox News clip from February 2025 an uptick in illegal immigrants apprehended during child predator stings nationwide. He stated: “We have seen an increase in illegal immigrants…it seems today that we can’t do a sting… without catching somebody who’s in this country illegally.”
For context, in an October appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Hansen added, “In the last month, we have caught 45 predators… Seven… with ICE ERO [targeting] people who are here illegally but have also been convicted of crimes against children.” Additionally, he cited a Mexican sex offender living near a daycare
Reacting to a viral clip of these comments on social media, a prominent conservative responded, “This is how bad is the situation with illegals is in AmericaChris Hansen, host of ‘To Catch a Predator’, says EVERY SINGLE TIME he sets up a sting to catch pedophiles, it’s an illegalRead that again, EVERY. SINGLE. TIME…Democrats need to be held accountable.”
In any case, Hansen didn’t mince his words. “We have seen an increase in illegal immigrants being caught in our stings across the country, and it seems today that we can’t do a sting, whether we’re in the south or the Midwest or West Coast or east coast, without catching somebody who’s in this country illegally,” Hansen explained in the clip.
Adding more context on the stunning scope of this issue, the TV star explained,“In the last month, we have caught 45 predators seeking to exploit children. Seven of those were for a new investigative series we have going on with ICE ERO [Enforcement and Removal Operations].”
Defending ICE from baseless attacks from cynical political actors, Hansen explained that ICE acts to protect children from these dangerous criminals. They go out after these people who are here illegally but have also been convicted of crimes against children,” he told Waters.
Pivotingto a specific example, the “To Catch a Predator” host added, “We had one guy who lived — [a] convicted sex offender from Mexico — lived in a home next to a daycare facility and three blocks from a school and as we’re doing this, anti-ICE protesters are rallying outside ICE headquarters with no idea as to what we just did.”
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Hansen’s comments echo remarks from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Speaking about a recent operation in Houston, she noted, “Thanks to ICE Houston, there are 214 less pedophiles on our streets. These are the type of perverted predators ICE is targeting and removing from our country.
Building on this point, she added, “President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow these sickos to prey on children in the U.S. Our message to these depraved criminals is clear: LEAVE NOW. If you don’t, we will hunt you down and deport you.”
Watch the clip here:
In another press release, she noted, “These aren’t just low-level offenders – they are sickening sexual predators and smugglers who pose real public safety threats to Americans.” Additionally, McLaughlin declared, “These are grisly criminals who exploited children, smuggled illegal aliens, and stalked Americans. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is taking the worst of the worst off the streets and making America safe again.”
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