DOJ Orders Records Freeze, Warns California: Arrest ICE Agents And Face Prosecution

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche warned California officials that attempts to arrest or impede ICE agents would be illegal and could trigger federal prosecution. The DOJ letter orders preservation of records tied to any efforts to obstruct immigration enforcement and follows recent statements by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other officials about arresting agents who violate state law. The move signals a federal escalation in response to local resistance around planned Bay Area ICE operations.