Radio host likens ICE to Nazis; journalist draws Anne Frank parallel in immigration debate

A Fox News Radio segment triggered backlash after a host compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Nazi enforcement during World War II, saying modern 'Anita Francos' live in fear. The remarks underscored how immigration enforcement rhetoric has permeated media commentary and provoked public protests as the Trump administration presses deportation efforts across the country.

On MSNBC's The Weekend, co-host Eugene Daniels led a discussion with Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media, about the psychological toll of enforcement policies on Black and Latino communities. Hinojosa described what she has observed in Chicago, noting that some residents feel they are living in fear similar to the way Anne Frank did, and highlighting a parallel figure she called Anita Franco who she said is terrified. She added that children are afraid to come out of their homes, and she argued that Black and Latino unity in the city could grow in response to the policies and political climate surrounding President Donald Trump's approach. Hinojosa emphasized that Chicago is a city of distinct neighborhoods and that locals resist outsiders telling them how to run their communities, while describing pervasive trauma in the Latino community that echoes historical fear experienced by those who hid during the Holocaust.

[IMAGE: Anne Frank diary image] [IMAGE: Protesters confront ICE agents]

Her discussion linked historical trauma to current policy debates, underscoring that Chicago’s fabric is built from neighborhood identities and that many residents distrust outside interference in their local governance. The exchange framed immigration policy as more than a federal issue; it affects daily life, trust, and social cohesion within Black and Latino communities, shaping how residents engage with law enforcement and political power at the municipal level.

Trump's administration has intensified deportation efforts, focusing on illegal entrants and those with criminal records, a policy stance that has drawn sharp opposition from Democrats and immigrant-rights advocates. In coverage of enforcement actions, some ICE agents have worn masks to shield themselves from harassment or doxxing by critics, a practice that has drawn protests from opponents who say the attire signals the heated atmosphere surrounding immigration policy, even as defenders argue the masks protect officers in volatile environments.

Hinojosa also referenced a post she shared on X earlier in the month, describing a day in Chicago that left her feeling as if a community under siege could be erased from public life. She invoked the idea of Anita as an immigrant woman who is effectively invisible, suggesting that the emotional weight of policy falls most heavily on everyday families and communities that have long felt targeted by federal enforcement.

Protests against immigration policy have surged in major cities, including Chicago, where demonstrators have gathered near government buildings and cultural landmarks. The ongoing debate over enforcement, humanitarian considerations, and local governance continues to shape political rhetoric as the country moves toward elections, with media figures and policy analysts alike weighing the consequences for minority communities and the social fabric of urban America.

[IMAGE: Ice protests near Chicago theater]