Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Kevin Mullin publicly warned that federal immigration agents could face arrest if they carry out mass enforcement in the Bay Area, a move tied to San Francisco’s local strategy and a planned surge of more than 100 ICE agents. The statement frames such raids as an abuse of power and points to California law as a shield for communities, while San Francisco’s District Attorney has laid out how local authorities might pursue prosecutions. Federal officials say an enforcement operation is imminent, and the standoff could quickly become a test case over state versus federal authority.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Rep. Kevin Mullin in a statement that threatened local action against federal immigration enforcement in the Bay Area. “Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” the statement read. “Broad sweeps that target families and terrorize law-abiding residents betray our nation’s values and waste resources that should focus on real threats to public safety.”
“It is important to note that California law protects communities and prevents federal agents from taking certain actions here that we have witnessed in other states. 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.
“The people of San Francisco will continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America. We will not be intimidated by politically motivated fear tactics.”
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins is widely reported to have developed the strategy, according to The New York Times. Jenkins says her plan grew from watching footage of federal agents using force in other cities and deciding she would hold anyone who broke local law accountable, even if they work for the federal government. That calculus sets up a legal and political clash between city-level discretion and federal immigration priorities.
Just IN 🚨: Former Speaker Pelosi says San Francisco police will arrest federal agents "who violate California law".
The law in question is "clear, excessive use of force" on anti-ice protestors. San Francisco DA Jenkins says police are onboard with arresting federal agents. pic.twitter.com/QM3CCorpYq
— Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) October 23, 2025
Ms. Jenkins said in an interview on Wednesday that she came up with the strategy after seeing federal agents repeatedly roughing up people in Los Angeles and Chicago.
If federal agents came to her city and did the same, District Attorney Jenkins decided, she would treat them like anybody else breaking the law and would seek to prosecute them.
Hit people with batons? Beat them up? Not on her watch, she said.
“I had lead time to think about what authority I have and what I can do,” she said. “This is something I felt very strongly about, and I had my office research it.”
District Attorney Jenkins said she had communicated with the San Francisco Police Department about arresting federal agents for “clear, excessive use of force” and that the agency was on board with the concept. A spokesman for the department did not return a request for comment on Wednesday.
District Attorney Jenkins said she did not envision police officers handcuffing federal agents in full view on city streets. Instead, she said, local law enforcement could review camera footage of beatings, if they occur, and try to identify the agent involved. Then, she said, she would ask a judge to sign a warrant for the agent’s arrest and seek to prosecute the agent in court.
“For me, this is about San Francisco and what I need to do for San Francisco,” she said.
Federal immigration authorities are reportedly planning an enforcement surge in the San Francisco Bay Area that starts this week, with over 100 agents slated to participate as part of President Donald Trump’s broader deportation efforts. Officials expect the operation to begin when a contingent of agents arrives in the area on Thursday. The sheer number of personnel involved makes this more than a routine task force deployment.
Local leaders threatening to arrest federal agents for alleged excessive force would be unprecedented and could sharply escalate tensions with the White House. From a Republican viewpoint, this looks like political theater that risks undermining the rule of law and federal authority over immigration enforcement. If prosecutions proceed, the dispute would almost certainly generate swift legal challenges that could end up in federal court.
It is not clear whether Pelosi’s statement was meant to deter conduct or to score political points ahead of a contentious enforcement action, but the practical consequences would be real if local prosecutors follow through. Federal officials could respond with legal measures or changes in operational tactics, and the back-and-forth would likely deepen national debates over immigration policy and local control. Courts will probably be asked to sort out whether local actions can legally constrain federal agents acting under immigration law.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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