Department of Justice (DOJ) Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche warned California Democrats on Thursday to “stand down or face prosecution” amid threats to arrest federal agents.
The warning comes after California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi suggested Wednesday that San Francisco police could potentially arrest federal agents if they were found violating state law during U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. In response, Blanche posted a letter on X that he had sent to Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, Pelosi and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.
“California politicians want to arrest federal agents for enforcing federal law. 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,” Blanche wrote in his post.
Within the letter to the California Democrats, Blanche wrote that instead of “supporting and working” with federal officials, the lawmakers have called for state and local law enforcement to “arrest” officers “enforcing federal laws enacted by the U.S. Congress, including federal immigration laws.”
Blanche added that any attempt to arrest federal agents would be considered by the DOJ as “both illegal and futile.”
“Accordingly, you are hereby directed to preserve all written and electronic communications and records related to any attempts or efforts to impede or obstruct federal law enforcement officials,” the letter continues. “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.”
“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,” Blanche’s letter concludes.
In Pelosi’s press release regarding the potential arrests, the California lawmaker wrote that “reports of a planned mass immigration raid” in the San Francisco area represent an “appalling abuse of law enforcement power.”
“While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. 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 wrote.
The lawmaker added that San Francisco residents will “continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America.”
The comments from the former House Speaker came the same day Jenkins reportedly stated in an interview that she developed the strategy after observing federal agents allegedly acting aggressively in Los Angeles and Chicago, according to The New York Times (NYT).
Jenkins had already spoken with the San Francisco Police Department about the potential of arresting federal agents for “clear, excessive use of force,” and the department reportedly agreed with the concept, the outlet said.
According to the NYT, Jenkins’ plan would involve local law enforcement reviewing camera footage of federal interactions, identifying agents if excessive force was used, and then seeking a judge to sign warrants to arrest and prosecute the officials.
The suggestion from Jenkins and Pelosi follows legislation signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, which largely bans face coverings for ICE agents and other law enforcement officials operating in the state. Despite the law, which takes effect in January, the Trump administration announced it does not plan to comply with the new requirements.
Bonta, Newsom, Pelosi and Jenkins did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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