In an unexpected twist during a routine “man on the street” interview in New York City, former CNN personality Don Lemon found himself taken aback by a local resident’s candid perspective on immigrationâa topic often fraught with political tension.
On a typical Sunday evening, Lemon was canvassing opinions from passersby primarily around the topics of the government shutdown and immigration policies enforced by ICE. As anticipated, many respondents generally mirrored Lemon’s own left-leaning stance, criticizing the GOP’s role in the shutdown and labeling ICE as a “secret police” overstepping constitutional bounds.
Yet, the narrative shifted about thirty minutes into his interviews when one African American man offered remarks that deviated from the drumbeat of conventional liberal thought on immigration.
When questioned about his thoughts on ICE’s roundups of undocumented immigrants, the man praised former President Trump’s approach, articulating a desire for stronger measures to safeguard American jobs. To Lemon’s astonishment, he called for Trump’s reelection.
LMAO! Don Lemon STUNNED after NYC man SUPPORTS President Trumpâs mass deportations pic.twitter.com/8nZm7PRtHj
LEMON: How do you feel about the ICE raids?
MAN: I feel GOOD about them!
LEMON: You want them to crack down?
MAN: MORE. Yes. Iâve been wanting it for years, all my lifeâŚ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 6, 2025
LEMON: How do you feel about the ICE raids?
MAN (fist bumps Lemon): I feel good about them!
LEMON (surprised): You want them to crack down?
MAN: More! Been waiting for it for years, all my life.
Trump for four more years for that!
LEMON: So, four more years for Trump?
MAN: Just because we need to concentrate on nothing but immigration and getting them (illegals) out of here.
LEMON: What about them (ICE) roughing people up?
MAN: Nah, that sh*t crazy… Do it the legal way. At the same time, get them out of here.
LEMON: You donât think they contribute to the economy at all?
MAN: Of course they do. At the same time, think about the people who werenât able to contribute because the immigrants were there… Who have the same skill set that they have.
The people here legally like me, I guess you, and (pointing) him canât do it because these people here illegally are doing it which is not cool for us.
LEMON: But you know theyâre (employers) having trouble filling jobs…
MAN: What kind of jobs?
LEMON: All over the service industry and farming…
MAN: Theyâve got to reset themselves.
LEMON: But the farmers need undocumented immigrants to get food to your table.
MAN: Thatâs not true, bro.
LEMON: It is true. You donât want to get facts?
MAN: Youâre (telling me) there ainât no America that will do those jobs? I know LOTS of them in my projects. Trust and believe.
LEMON: Why arenât they doing it?
MAN: Because they donât have the opportunity, because itâs not there.
