U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a scathing warning to top California Democrat officials, declaring that any attempts to arrest or interfere with federal immigration officers will be treated as a criminal act and prosecuted accordingly.
In a formal letter addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Blanche reminded California Democrat leaders that federal law supersedes state law and that obstructing lawful immigration enforcement is “illegal and futile.”
“We just sent them a letter: Stand down or face prosecution,” Blanche wrote in a post on X after the letter was released on Thursday.
“No one threatens our agents.
“No one will stop us from Making America Safe Again.”
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. pic.twitter.com/xe0EK8QssO— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) October 23, 2025
Pelosi Threatens to Arrest Federal Agents
The Justice Department’s warning came in response to a joint statement by Pelosi and Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA), who threatened to arrest federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement operations in the Bay Area.
“Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” Pelosi and Mullin said.
“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.”
The remarks drew immediate backlash from federal officials and legal experts, who noted that state and local governments have no authority to prosecute or detain federal officers acting under constitutional authority.
DOJ Cites Supremacy Clause, Criminal Statutes
Blanche’s letter cited multiple federal statutes that criminalize assaulting, impeding, or conspiring against federal officers, as well as the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The clause explicitly prevents states from overriding federal law.
The letter warned California’s top officials that any attempts to obstruct or harass federal personnel could lead to federal charges for conspiracy or obstruction.
“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.
He further directed the recipients to preserve all communications and records related to any discussions of impeding federal operations, warning that the Department of Justice will investigate and prosecute violations.
Federal-State Showdown Over Immigration Enforcement
The exchange marks an escalation in the ongoing standoff between President Donald Trump’s administration and California Democrats.
The deep blue state’s Democrat officials have repeatedly sought to limit federal immigration enforcement in the state through sanctuary laws and local directives.
Blanche’s letter signals a zero-tolerance approach from the Justice Department toward state obstruction, as the administration ramps up immigration enforcement operations along the southern border and in major sanctuary cities.
Legal experts say the letter effectively puts California’s leadership on notice.
They have now officially been warned that any interference with federal immigration officers could result in criminal charges and a full-blown constitutional showdown over states’ rights and federal authority.
Watch this space.
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