Fox News Clash: Jesse Watters Sparks Outrage After Mocking Jessica Tarlov’s Concerns Over Wrongful Deportations

Fox News host Jesse Watters found himself at the center of controversy after openly mocking co-host Jessica Tarlov for criticizing the Trump administration’s controversial deportation policies, particularly concerning innocent individuals mistakenly sent to El Salvador.

During a heated segment on the popular Fox News program The Five, Tarlov highlighted troubling cases involving the administration’s use of the obscure 1798 Alien Enemies Act. She specifically referenced the disturbing case of Andry José Hernández Romero, a 31-year-old makeup artist deported to El Salvador. According to ACLU filings, Romero was unjustly imprisoned in El Salvador solely due to a benign tattoo—a crown with the word “mom.”

Watters sharply dismissed Tarlov’s concerns, sarcastically remarking, “You’ve been talking about this gay barber in El Salvador with some stupid tattoo for weeks. Weeks, Jessica. It’s just a gay barber.” His comments sparked immediate backlash, especially considering Tarlov’s serious concerns about potential torture and human rights abuses faced by deportees.

Fellow co-host Greg Gutfeld interjected humorously, “He’s not into you!” further trivializing the serious discussion. Despite the joke, Watters acknowledged moments later that Romero might indeed be innocent, admitting that he could have simply been “swept up” mistakenly.

Watters continued his defense, asserting, “A lot of people in this country get arrested for things they didn’t do—get falsely accused, falsely—” before being interrupted by Tarlov, who firmly reiterated, “I’m also against racial profiling.”

“That doesn’t mean you stop arresting people,” Watters argued. “It doesn’t mean you stop arresting criminals because one guy was innocent. It just means you try to do it better next time.”

The exchange quickly became heated online, prompting strong reactions from viewers. Critics accused Watters of dismissing valid concerns about human rights abuses and trivializing the plight of wrongly deported individuals, while supporters defended his broader argument about law enforcement needing room to improve without abandoning necessary policies.

The fiery debate underscores the ongoing national conversation surrounding immigration policy, human rights, and governmental accountability—topics that continue to sharply divide commentators and audiences alike.