Philadelphia DA warns ICE agents of arrest at airport amid legal clash
Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said he would pursue criminal charges against any Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who violate the law within the city, warning that federal authority would not shield them from local prosecution. The remarks, delivered in a public setting, focused on conduct at Philadelphia International Airport and referenced past incidents in other cities.
This comes after Donald Trump’s administration deployed ICE agents to assist TSA at Philadelphia International Airport and other airports across the country. Krasner outlined his position on jurisdiction, stating that any crimes committed within Philadelphia fall under his office’s authority, regardless of the individual’s federal role. He emphasized that presidential intervention would not override local prosecution decisions in such cases.
“This is how it works. You commit crimes within the jurisdiction that is the city and county of Philadelphia. I prosecute you. That is how it works. No, I don’t take a phone call from the president saying let him go,” Krasner said. “No, the president cannot pardon you. I’ll say it again. The president cannot pardon you.”
Legal warning tied to airport operations
Krasner directed his warning specifically at ICE agents operating at the airport, drawing a line between lawful enforcement and actions he described as criminal. He said violations would result in arrest and prosecution.
“And yes, I will put you in handcuffs and I will put you in a courtroom. And if necessary, I will put you in a jail cell if you decide to make the terrazzo floor of this airport anything like what you did in the streets of Minneapolis, which involved the criminal homicide of unarmed innocent people,” Krasner said.
Key Points
- Philadelphia DA says ICE agents can be arrested if they violate local laws
- Krasner asserts presidential pardons would not apply in such cases
- Warning specifically targets conduct at Philadelphia International Airport
Krasner also addressed federal agents who follow legal standards, expressing support while maintaining that unlawful actions would face consequences.
“We are not having that here. But let me go back to all ICE agents who are going to keep their oath. Who are going to follow the law and uphold the Constitution of the United States, thank you for keeping your oath,” Krasner said. “To any agent who might think about doing it an illegal way, I’ll be seeing you in court, and you’re not going to like it.”
Prior remarks draw attention
In previously circulated remarks, Krasner used strong language when discussing immigration enforcement, comparing certain actions to historical injustices and vowing accountability.
“This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis. That’s what they are. In a country of 350 million, we outnumber them. If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities. We will find you. We will achieve justice.”
The statements come amid ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement authority and the balance between federal operations and local jurisdiction.
