SO. FEDERAL SHOWDOWN: DOJ Fires Back After Pelosi Threatens Action Against Immigration Agents
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal letter to top California officials Thursday, warning them against any attempts to arrest or impede federal law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws.
The letter, addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom; state Attorney General Rob Bonta; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, stressed that federal agents and officers are carrying out lawful duties, and any interference by state or local officials is both “illegal and futile.”
The letter was sent after Pelosi, the former House Speaker, and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., issued a statement Wednesday threatening to arrest federal agents if they break California law.
If convicted, the Democrats noted, President Donald Trump cannot pardon agents.
The DOJ warned former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., against prosecuting federal agents enforcing immigration law. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
NANCY PELOSI ERUPTS WHEN ASKED BY CNN’S JAKE TAPPER ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING
“Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” Pelosi and Mullin wrote in the statement. “While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. … The people of San Francisco will continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America.”
Blanche shared his response in an X post, writing, “We just sent them a letter: Stand down or face prosecution. No one threatens our agents. No one will stop us from Making America Safe Again.”
The letter cites several federal statutes that criminalize assaulting, impeding or conspiring against federal officers, and notes the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates state officials cannot prosecute federal agents for actions taken in the course of their duties.
Blanche directed California leaders to “preserve all written and electronic communications and records related to any attempts or efforts to impede or obstruct federal law enforcement officials,” forewarning that the Department of Justice will investigate and prosecute any official who violates federal statutes.
Federal agents walk outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles Aug. 14. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“We urge you and other California officials to publicly abandon this apparent criminal conspiracy, to stop threatening law enforcement, and to prioritize the safety of your citizens,” Blanche wrote.
Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.
She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.
- oldnews7949 hours agoWhat will happen is CA will try to arrest agents, The federal government would immediately appeal to supreme court given the supremacy clause, SCOTUS would side with the federal government. I think Trump should also make it clear that if the state tries to interfere with lawful ICE operations they …See moreReply1.3K8Share
- wildcatfan3999 hours agoI disagree. I think President Trump should simply state that the letter informing them of the law has been sent and the first attempt to arrest/directly interfere with federal agents performing their legal, authorized job would be immediate cause for the declaration of the insurrection act. And the…See moreReply6886Share32 replies
- CommonSense20409829 hours agoSupremacy clause. Stare law cannot subvert federal law…so if the California Law is a violation of Federal Law it is invalid. Arresting federal officers enforcing federal law would justify and demand National Guard activation in defense of the officers trying to enforce the law. Unlawful arrest…See moreReply4925Share
- GoldBattleE8 hours agoSo why then, have the Federal government not challenged “sanctuary city legislature” as direct violation to federal law? This should have been solved many years ago the minute a blue city enacted illegal laws that coddle and signal illegals to come to America. What a waste of millions of dollars, m…See moreReply1201Share24 replies
- ProudAmericanMarky9 hours agoStop threatening these state level folks, they aren’t listening. They think there status will protect them. Bring the thing to a head and round them up and charge them with these obstruction issues. It’s time these state level folks follow the law. This would start the process of establishing t…See moreReply3082Share
- rancher19678 hours agoSpeaking of status, “Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” Pelosi and Mullin wrote in the statement.” This sounds like Pelosi is using privileged information about raids to warn the criminals in advance. Arrest and charge her so…See moreReply134Share10 replies
- 92768 hours agoI don’t like speeding laws. The next time I am stopped for speeding, I am going call the Governor and have the State Police arrest the local police for giving me a ticket. The Dems have TDS so badly that they think they can choose what Federal laws they can obey and what laws they can break. In …See moreReply1203Share
- jbar3848 hours agoThe disturbing thing is that the democrats would arrest the local police for giving you the speeding ticket for speeding over the limit.Reply181Share4 replies
- BubbaBanjo9 hours agoWay overdue. Also notify them if their rhetoric leads to attacks or injury to officers they will be held complicit. They need to answer for their incitements.Reply1671Share
- Nolongersilentmajority7 hours agoThese “leaders” will only stop their harmful and dangerous rhetoric when they are held criminally accountable. Throw the book at them, arrest them , strip searched them, night in jail in general population, and then bail and court. Reply32Share
- Djow9 hours agoAssisting in enforcement of immigration laws should be EVERY law enforcement agency’s duty, regardless of it being city, or state police or Sheriff. Reply3312Share
- MakingAmericaGreatAgain0149 hours agoNot to the Democrats. They protect them at all costs in hopes of one day giving all of them citizenship for votes.Reply912Share6 replies
- jose90568 hours agoAfter they arrest Federal agents enforcing Federal laws, Trump might declare it a rebellious state, refuse to seat its representatives, and invoke military rule as was done in Confederate states during and immediately after the Civil War.Reply1131Share
- NMart8 hours agoThat’s a thought Reply31Share
- Xr289 hours agoDid they tell that to Portland and Chicago too? This is common knowledge. If you arrest someone, that is tantamount to using force against them. The Confederate States of America tried the same thing against the Union Republicans and it didn’t go well for them.Lincoln went to Maryland and arrested …See moreReply2133Share
- godzilla0548 hours agoIt has become the democrat’s fighting the United States and its Constitution. A true insurrection Reply89Share
- Cantor6399 hours agoNo local Police anywhere would even attempt to do what Newsom and Pelosi suggest.All local Police KNOW they cannot interfere with Federal Law Officers.It’s all bluster for Pelosi’s and Newsom’s base.Reply140Share
- soapdish248 hours agoObviously. At most they’d have a conversation and ask if they would like to submit to an arrest warrant. More likely their lawyers would have that conversation and they’d just stand around and talk about sports. Reply7Share1 reply
