By Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a leftwing prosecutor whose 2017 campaign received substantial backing from billionaire George Soros, is facing mounting criticism after making incendiary remarks about federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a rally supporting new restrictions on the agency’s activities in the city.
The controversy unfolded at a press event outside City Hall, where Krasner endorsed an “ICE OUT” legislative package introduced by City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau. The proposed measures would prohibit ICE from using city-owned buildings or property, bar municipal departments from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, prevent the sharing of city data with ICE, and restrict agents’ access to public spaces such as libraries and health centers without a judicial warrant.
During the event, Krasner sharply criticized ICE personnel, stating: “This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis. That’s what they are.” He went further, adding: “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.”
Krasner’s remarks immediately drew condemnation from state and federal officials, who warned that the rhetoric — and the legislation he supports — could have legal consequences. Pennsylvania lawmakers cautioned both Krasner and Philadelphia County Sheriff Rochelle Bilal that obstructing federal operations may violate state law. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, a Republican, dismissed the comments as political theater, noting that local officials lack authority to impede federal enforcement and warning that any attempt to do so would bring serious repercussions, reported Politico.
The White House also condemned the statements. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson pointed to a reported 1,300 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers, which she attributed to what she described as “dangerous, untrue smears by elected Democrats.” Jackson praised ICE agents as acting heroically to enforce the law and protect communities, calling for cooperation rather than confrontation from local leaders. “Anyone pointing the finger at law enforcement officers instead of the criminals is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens,” Jackson said.
Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania echoed that criticism. House Minority Leader Jesse Topper labeled Krasner’s comments hypocritical and accused city leadership of using inflammatory rhetoric to distract from Philadelphia’s ongoing violent crime problems.
Krasner has long been a polarizing figure in state and national politics. His successful 2017 campaign for district attorney was bolstered by nearly $1.7 million in independent expenditures from a Soros-funded political action committee, which paid for television advertising, literature, online outreach, and canvassing, reported Fox News. That support, part of Soros’s broader national effort to elect progressive prosecutors focused on criminal justice reform, helped Krasner prevail in a crowded Democratic primary and win the general election.
Sheriff Bilal has publicly aligned herself with Krasner’s stance, referring to ICE personnel as “fake, wannabe law enforcement” and cautioning agents against aggressive actions in the city. Krasner has also previously asserted that ICE agents who commit crimes in Philadelphia would be subject to arrest and prosecution under state law, outside the reach of presidential pardon authority.
The “ICE OUT” bills are expected to be formally introduced to the full Philadelphia City Council in the coming days, after which they could advance to Cherelle Parker for consideration. Supporters describe the measures as necessary protections for local autonomy and constitutional rights against federal overreach, while critics argue that both the legislation and the accompanying rhetoric risk undermining public safety and inflaming tensions between city officials and federal law enforcement.
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