Left-wing prosecutors are forming a coalition to criminally charge federal immigration agents for doing their jobs, threatening the rule of law and turning state courts into weapons against legitimate federal enforcement operations.
Story Snapshot
- Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner launched the “FAFO” coalition to prosecute federal agents, joined by prosecutors from Minnesota, Arizona, Texas, and Virginia
- Coalition targets ICE agents following fatal shootings during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota
- Prosecutors claim federal agents lack immunity from state prosecution, despite nearly 135 years of legal precedent protecting federal officers
- California established a misconduct reporting portal and pledged state resources to investigate federal agents
- No federal agent has ever been successfully convicted on state homicide charges for actions taken during official duties
Radical Prosecutors Weaponize State Courts Against Federal Law Enforcement
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the formation of a multi-state prosecutorial coalition on January 28, 2026, explicitly designed to bring criminal charges against federal immigration agents. The group, calling itself “Fight Against Federal Overreach” or “FAFO,” includes prosecutors from Minneapolis, Arizona, Texas, and Virginia who claim they will hold federal officers accountable for alleged crimes during immigration enforcement operations. Krasner declared state prosecutors represent “one of the most effective tools to try to preserve democracy,” positioning local officials as a check on federal authority. This unprecedented coordination represents a dangerous escalation where partisan district attorneys seek to criminalize legitimate federal law enforcement.
Local Prosecutors Join Forces to Bring Charges Against Federal Agents https://t.co/B8tzGOgVGW
— Jeff Norman (@citizenjeff) January 28, 2026
Minnesota ICE Shootings Spark Coordinated State Response
The coalition emerged after ICE agents fatally shot protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. State and local law enforcement initiated investigations into these deaths but encountered what they characterize as federal obstruction. Minnesota prosecutors claim the Justice Department cannot be trusted to hold federal agents accountable, creating what they view as a necessity for state-level prosecution. A Trump-appointed judge ordered the administration to preserve evidence relevant to the investigation. California Attorney General Rob Bonta led an amicus brief supporting Minnesota’s lawsuit, calling the federal deployment an “extraordinary campaign of lawlessness” while establishing a public reporting portal at oag.ca.gov/reportmisconduct for citizens to report federal agent misconduct.
Legal Precedent Reveals Fundamental Weaknesses in Prosecution Strategy
Federal agents have possessed qualified immunity from state prosecution since an 1890 Supreme Court decision protecting “necessary and proper” actions performed during official duties. The historical record demonstrates the practical impossibility of these prosecutions. In Ruby Ridge in 1992, an FBI sharpshooter killed Vicki Weaver during a standoff. A federal appeals court ruled Idaho could prosecute manslaughter charges in 2001, marking the first time a federal agent faced such charges, but a newly elected county prosecutor subsequently dropped them. Similarly, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano brought state charges against two U.S. Park Police officers in 2017 for a fatal shooting, but a federal district judge ruled the officers had immunity and a new Republican Attorney General dropped the appeal in 2022.
Coalition Strategy Threatens Federal Immigration Enforcement Operations
The coalition aims to formalize strategy sharing and solicit donations for forensic investigators and specialized lawyers to challenge Justice Department opposition. Prosecutors claim state criminal codes provide tools for charging federal officers with homicide, obstruction of justice, evidence tampering, perjury, and false oaths. Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot framed the effort as existential, claiming “democracy is at stake” along with freedom of speech and protest. Fairfax County’s Descano emphasized that federal pardon power cannot shield state crimes, attempting to establish a legal framework where federal agents face criminal liability regardless of presidential support. This coordinated effort could fundamentally alter how federal immigration enforcement operates in hostile jurisdictions.
Constitutional Crisis Looms as States Challenge Federal Authority
This coalition represents an alarming assault on federalism and the constitutional framework that allows federal law enforcement to operate nationwide without harassment from politically motivated local prosecutors. Attorney General Bonta claims federal courts recognize agents lack absolute immunity from state prosecution, but the Brennan Center for Justice acknowledges the legal bar remains extremely high. The coalition’s formation during heightened federal immigration enforcement reveals its true purpose: obstructing Trump administration efforts to enforce immigration law. No federal agent has ever been successfully convicted on state homicide charges for official actions. These progressive prosecutors are exploiting tragedy to advance a political agenda that would cripple federal law enforcement, endanger agents performing dangerous duties, and undermine the constitutional structure that prevents hostile states from nullifying federal authority through selective prosecution.
Sources:
Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta to Law Enforcement: Local and State Police Have Authority to Investigate Crimes Committed by Federal Agents
Krasner launches FAFO coalition of prosecutors to hold federal agents accountable
When Can States Prosecute Federal Agents?
Top City Prosecutors Form FAFO Coalition to Bring Charges Against Federal Agents
