Podcaster Joe Rogan has once again thrust himself into the heart of America’s immigration debate, offering a candid and at times conflicted critique of both current enforcement strategies and the political motivations behind them. On recent episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Rogan voiced the growing frustration among American voters who, he says, had hoped for a more targeted approach to immigration enforcement—one focused on violent criminals, not the laborers who have become fixtures in communities and job sites across the country.
Rogan’s latest commentary, aired on August 15 and 16, 2025, comes as the U.S. gears up for midterm elections and as President Donald Trump’s administration doubles down on tough immigration tactics. According to Fox News and the Daily Mail, Rogan argued that the reality of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids—often sweeping up day laborers outside Home Depot parking lots, construction sites, and even schools—has left many Americans feeling blindsided and uneasy. “When people thought about ICE, they thought, ‘Great, we’re going to get rid of the gang members.’ They didn’t think, ‘Great, you’re going to get rid of the landscaper,’” Rogan remarked, encapsulating the disconnect between voter expectations and the agency’s current actions.
He elaborated further, telling Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, “The idea of people just showing up and pulling people out of schools and pulling people out of Home Depot... that were just hardworking people that maybe snuck over here because they didn’t have a legal way to get over here... that’s what freaks people out.” Rogan’s words have resonated with listeners across the political spectrum, especially those who feel the administration’s promise to target “bad hombres” has instead resulted in the disruption of families and communities dependent on undocumented labor.
The issue is not just one of enforcement, but of empathy and practicality. Rogan, who has oscillated between progressive and libertarian stances in recent years, reflected on the plight of immigrants from poorer countries. He asked, “If you’re just a landscaper, you’re just a guy who lives in a Third World country and you want a better life, and you say, ‘I heard you can get across, and I heard when you get across, you can get work’ — like, what is that guy going to do?” He continued, “That guy doesn’t have the money to hire a lawyer. How is he gonna prove that he is more valuable than a United States citizen that’s already here doing the exact same job?”
Rogan’s criticisms have not been limited to the Trump administration’s enforcement priorities. He has repeatedly called the deportation policies “horrific” and “insane,” as reported by the Daily Mail. Weeks prior, he slammed ICE for targeting laborers at their places of work, and in March, he stated that he holds “more left wing positions than right wing” ones, despite having endorsed Trump on the eve of the 2024 election. That endorsement, Rogan now admits, has come under strain as the administration’s tactics become more aggressive and less discriminating.
Adding a political twist to the conversation, Rep. Luna suggested that some of the protests erupting in response to ICE raids have been influenced by foreign interests, particularly from China, aiming to sow discord ahead of the elections. Rogan acknowledged the possibility, saying, “I absolutely believe this is true, that I’m sure other countries fund similar things, but also it was a reaction to some of the ICE raids, right? It was a visceral reaction that a lot of people had to the idea of people just showing up and pulling people out of schools and pulling people out of Home Depot and pulling people that were just hardworking people that maybe snuck over here because they didn’t have a legal way to get over here, but since they’ve been here, they’ve been good people and they’re a part of communities.”
Still, Rogan was quick to note that not all outrage is manufactured. He believes the public’s reaction is, in large part, a genuine response to what they see as overreach. “I’m sure some of these riots are manufactured, I’m sure they are,” he said, but he emphasized the authenticity of the broader backlash. Luna, for her part, argued that both major political parties have a vested interest in keeping the immigration issue unresolved, a sentiment Rogan found “so nuts, and probably so accurate.”
Underlying the debate is the economic reality that many American corporations, especially in agriculture, construction, and service industries, rely heavily on undocumented labor. Rogan highlighted this contradiction, asking, “How many corporations rely on illegal labor?” It’s a question that exposes the tangled web of interests—political, economic, and humanitarian—that make comprehensive immigration reform such a persistent challenge.
Despite his critiques, Rogan is not advocating for open borders. In fact, he has repeatedly expressed support for increased security at the southern border, particularly to prevent the entry of cartel members and violent criminals. “America absolutely needs to enforce its border to prevent cartel members and other criminals from entering,” he insisted. However, he draws a sharp distinction between targeting dangerous individuals and sweeping up those whose only crime is seeking a better life through work.
The Trump administration’s approach, influenced in part by top White House aide Stephen Miller, has reportedly included direct orders to ICE agents to target laborers at businesses like Home Depot as recently as May 2025, according to The Wall Street Journal. This strategy has led to dozens of day laborers being arrested outside stores in cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Baltimore, sparking protests and further fueling the debate.
Rogan’s evolving stance on immigration enforcement reflects a broader shift in public sentiment. Many Americans who once cheered tough rhetoric on crime and border security now find themselves questioning the wisdom—and morality—of policies that upend the lives of workers who have become integral to their communities. Meanwhile, the political establishment, according to Rogan and Luna, seems content to let the issue fester, reaping electoral benefits from the continued discord.
As the midterms approach and immigration remains a flashpoint, Rogan’s voice—equal parts skeptical, empathetic, and pragmatic—captures the complexity of the debate. His willingness to challenge both the administration and the broader political system has made “The Joe Rogan Experience” a key forum for grappling with one of America’s most enduring and divisive issues.
For now, the country remains caught between the ideals of law and order and the realities of economic need and human aspiration. The question, as Rogan puts it, is not just who gets deported, but what kind of nation America wants to be—and who gets to decide.
