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The Justice Department on Thursday warned California officials, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), against engaging in an “apparent criminal conspiracy” to arrest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued the letter to Pelosi, Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins after the former House speaker suggested Wednesday that local police could arrest ICE agents if they violate state laws while carrying out immigration enforcement operations.
“Rather than supporting and working with federal law enforcement professionals, California politicians, including U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, have instead called for state and local law enforcement officials to ‘arrest’ federal agents and officers for enforcing federal laws enacted by the U.S. Congress, including federal immigration laws,” Blanche wrote in his missive.
Members of the Police US Customs Border Protection pummel a man to the ground during an arrest at the Edward R. Roybal Center and Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, on June 10, 2025. Barbara Davidson/NYPost“The Department of Justice views any arrests of federal agents and officers in the performance of their official duties as both illegal and futile,” he added. “Numerous federal laws prohibit interfering with and impeding immigration or other law-enforcement operations.”
Blanche said the DOJ would “investigate and prosecute any state or local official” who flouts federal statutes or directs or conspires with others to violate them.
The deputy AG further ordered the California officials to “preserve all written and electronic communications and records related to any attempts or efforts to impede or obstruct federal law enforcement officials.”
“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 continued. “In the meantime, federal agents and officers will continue to enforce federal law and will not be deterred by the threat of arrest by California authorities who have abdicated their duty to protect their constituents.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a letter to Pelosi, Newsom, Bonta, and Jenkins after Pelosi said local police could arrest ICE agents who violate state law during immigration operations. Todd Blanche, /XAmid reports of ICE raids planned for the Bay Area, Pelosi and Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) issued a joint statement claiming that California law “prevents federal agents from taking certain actions.”
“While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not,” the lawmakers wrote. “ Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them.”
Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
“Stand down or face prosecution,” Blanche warned on X. “No one threatens our agents. No one will stop us from Making America Safe Again.”
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