Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a strongly worded letter to several California officials — including Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, Rob Bonta and Brooke Jenkins — warning that any attempt by state or local authorities in California to arrest or otherwise interfere with federal immigration agents (such as those from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) would be “illegal and futile,” and could lead to federal prosecution.

Blanche’s letter invokes the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause (which gives federal law precedence over conflicting state laws) and highlights federal statutes that criminalize impeding or conspiring against federal officers. He also instructed the officials to preserve all records and communications related to any efforts to obstruct federal law-enforcement operations.

On the California side, officials defended their positions by maintaining that state law provides protections for residents (especially immigrant communities) and that local or state officials may hold federal agents accountable if they violate state laws. Meanwhile, the Justice Department reaffirmed that federal immigration enforcement remains a federal function and that state or local attempts to arrest federal agents carry legal risk.

The exchange underscores the ongoing tension between state sovereignty and federal supremacy in the realm of immigration enforcement—and signals that the federal government is prepared to respond with legal action if state or local actions are viewed as obstructing federal agents carrying out their duties.