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1h ago

Swalwell Vows to Revoke Driver’s Licenses for Masked ICE Agents if Elected California Governor

The pledge advances his strategy to curb ICE through state licensing, a plan already drawing questions about state authority under federal law.

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Democratic United States Representative Eric Swalwell delivers a speech as he attends the SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)'s Gubernatorial Candidate Worker Forum at Meruelo Studios in Los Angeles, California, on January 10, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Speaking at an Empowerment Congress forum in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, Eric Swalwell said masked ICE agents would lose qualified immunity and be barred from driving in California, using coarse language to emphasize the point.
  • He said he would direct local law enforcement to use every available power to prosecute ICE officers for alleged crimes including battery, false imprisonment and murder.
  • A clip of the exchange, recorded and shared by Acyn Torabi, spread widely online following the event.
  • Earlier this month, Swalwell and Rep. Dan Goldman introduced the ICE OUT Act to strip ICE officers of qualified immunity after the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis.
  • California issues driver’s licenses to undocumented residents, and legal experts cited in coverage have questioned whether a governor could lawfully revoke licenses from federal agents.