Pelosi has completely lost it. This ends all debate on the matter.
And now she’s in deep trouble after calling for violence against ICE agents.
Pelosi Proposes Local Arrests of Federal Agents
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, joined by Rep. Kevin Mullin, issued a provocative statement Wednesday, asserting that local San Francisco police could arrest federal agents who violate California law during planned immigration raids in the Bay Area.
“While the president may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not,” they declared.
“Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the president cannot pardon them.” Critics argue this stance from Pelosi risks inflaming tensions without a clear legal foundation, potentially undermining federal immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration had announced plans to deploy U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to Coast Guard Island in Alameda for an immigration enforcement operation. On Thursday, President Trump halted the San Francisco crackdown, though other Bay Area cities remain uncertain about their status.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who originated the arrest proposal, cited reports of federal agents using excessive force in Los Angeles and Chicago. “I had lead time to think about what authority I have,” Jenkins said. “If federal agents use clear, excessive force here, we’ll seek to prosecute them.”
Legal Hurdles Cloud Arrest Strategy
The proposal to arrest federal agents faces significant legal obstacles. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley’s School of Law, explained that states cannot prosecute federal agents acting within their legal authority to enforce immigration law. “As long as the ICE agents are acting legally, the state can’t prosecute them and hold them liable, even if it dislikes what they’re doing,” he said.
However, agents using excessive force could face state lawsuits or prosecution for violations like battery. A forthcoming California law barring agents from wearing masks, set to take effect in January, may face legal challenges, and Jenkins noted the Trump administration could claim immunity for its officers or ignore local warrants.
Tensions Escalate Amid Local Pushback
Pelosi’s statement reflects broader Democratic resistance to federal immigration enforcement. Rep. Ro Khanna has advocated for requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and display names to prevent alleged harassment of citizens.
Rep. Sam Liccardo, former San Jose mayor, emphasized that “all law enforcement must comply with the Constitution,” suggesting violations could justify legal action. Jenkins, who shared her strategy on X after Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff briefly endorsed National Guard deployment, stressed her commitment to San Francisco’s safety.
Pelosi and Mullin’s claim that federal agents have overstepped elsewhere, calling planned raids “an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” has drawn sharp criticism.
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, responded, “So this politician is threatening to prosecute law enforcement officers for … enforcing the laws on the books?” With no clear mechanism for implementation and spokespeople for both Democrats declining to elaborate, Pelosi’s proposal risks escalating federal-local tensions without a viable enforcement path.
