Philadelphia DA threatens to jail ICE agents deployed to airport

Warns Trump 'cannot pardon you' if federal agents break the law

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:19am

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Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner threatened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed to the Philadelphia airport with jail if they commit crimes within the city's jurisdiction. Krasner warned the agents that President Trump cannot pardon them if they break the law.

Why it matters

This confrontation highlights the ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement, especially as the partial government shutdown has led to the deployment of ICE agents to assist TSA at airports across the country. Krasner's strong stance reflects concerns about potential abuses of power by federal agents operating in local communities.

The details

Krasner spoke to reporters at the Philadelphia airport, one of several locations where federal agents have been deployed to help TSA agents amid the government shutdown. He warned ICE agents that if they "commit crimes within the jurisdiction that is the city and county of Philadelphia," he will "prosecute you" and "put you in handcuffs" and "put you in a jail cell." Krasner said the president cannot pardon the agents if they break the law.

  • Krasner's comments came a day after President Trump deployed ICE agents to airports in 11 major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia.
  • On Wednesday, the District Attorney doubled down on his threats to ICE agents.

The players

Larry Krasner

The Philadelphia District Attorney who threatened to jail ICE agents if they break the law in the city.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who deployed ICE agents to airports across the country, including Philadelphia.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that has deployed agents to assist TSA at airports during the partial government shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“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 them go.' No, the president cannot pardon you.”

— Larry Krasner, Philadelphia District Attorney

“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. We are not having that.”

— Larry Krasner, Philadelphia District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow any ICE agents arrested by Krasner to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This confrontation between the Philadelphia District Attorney and federal immigration agents highlights the ongoing tensions and power struggles between local authorities and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, especially as the government shutdown has led to increased federal presence in major airports across the country.