Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell plans to target ICE agents and take their drivers’ licenses if he becomes California’s next governor.
During a Tuesday appearance on MS NOW’s “All In,” Swalwell outlined what actions he would take if elected governor, in response to federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
Host Jason Johnson asked what Swalwell would bring to the role, pointing to other Democratic governors who have positioned themselves as roadblocks to the current administration.
Johnson noted California’s size and economic power, calling it “the tip of the spear,” and pressed Swalwell on how he would use that leverage.
We will not allow January 6 to be erased from history. pic.twitter.com/Exad0ZQ4Io
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) December 31, 2025
Swalwell said the governor’s office carries broad authority and a duty to protect vulnerable residents, then turned his attention directly to ICE operations.
He described a scenario in which federal agents carry out enforcement actions against illegal immigrants working in agriculture and other industries.
“So if the president is going to send ICE agents to chase immigrants through the fields where they work, what I’m going to do is make sure that they take off their masks and show their faces, that they show their identification,” Swalwell claimed, adding that agents who break the law should face prosecution.
He went on to list potential charges he believes could apply, including “falsely imprisoning people,” “kidnapping,” and “assault battery,” saying agents should be “held accountable” if such crimes occur.
Swalwell also suggested using state authority over driving privileges as leverage against federal officers.
“I also think if the governor has the ability to issue driver’s licenses to people in California, if you’re going to wear a mask and not identify yourself, you’re not going to be eligible to drive a vehicle in California,” he continued.
“There’s a lot you can do, but most importantly, you have to go on offense.”
The comments added to a pattern of confrontational rhetoric from the California congressman, who has increasingly targeted both federal law enforcement and Trump officials in recent months.
That posturing was also visible in a Christmas Day post on X, where Swalwell shared an image depicting a nativity scene being raided by ICE agents.
The image portrayed spray-painted officers storming the Bethlehem stable where Jesus was born, drawing an explicit parallel between the biblical figures and modern illegal immigrants.
“May this be the last Christmas we live this nightmare,” Swalwell tweeted alongside the image.
May this be the last Christmas we live this nightmare. pic.twitter.com/DRlBACltJQ
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 25, 2025
The post sparked swift backlash from current and former law enforcement officials, including U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who responded bluntly.
“Yes, the last Christmas where un-American pedantic dolts choose illegal aliens over US Citizens,” Bovino wrote in reply.
Bovino also weighed in on another comment directed at Swalwell from a Florida woman who criticized the congressman’s post.
“Yes, the nightmare was [the] last four years prior letting in everyone and their grandma. Insane [a] congressman would post this,” she wrote.
“Well said… Merry Christmas,” Bovino responded.
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Swalwell’s clashes with critics have not been limited to immigration. Over the weekend, he escalated his attacks on the Trump administration by openly discussing potential impeachment efforts and funding restrictions targeting senior officials if Democrats regain control of the House in 2026.
Speaking on MS NOW’s “The Weekend,” Swalwell was asked about the possibility of using inherent contempt or impeachment against Trump administration figures connected to the handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Eric Swalwell tells MS Now:
“If Democrats gain the majority in 2026, they will spend the next two years trying to impeach Trump officials.”
— Loomer Unleashed (@LoomerUnleashed) December 28, 2025
“Congressman, it sounds like you’re saying that inherent contempt, holding these officials in inherent contempt, or even the possible — a vote on impeachment of someone like [Attorney General] Pam Bondi,” host Laura Barrón-López said during the exchange.
“Or restricting funding,” Swalwell interjected.
Barrón-López followed up, asking whether such actions would only occur if Democrats win back the House.
“Yes. And so we have to telegraph that that’s what we are willing to do if we are given the majority,” Swalwell replied.
He then made a sweeping claim attempting to tie Trump personally to Epstein, despite the lack of any evidence.
“Look, we all know that Jeffrey Epstein was Donald Trump’s best friend. We know that because Jeffrey Epstein said that,” Swalwell remarked.
“And so the question that everyone has right now is, what did Donald Trump know about Jeffrey Epstein?” he continued.
“I know everything about my best friends. So, if one of my best friends was a child sex trafficker, I would know that.”
The remarks came amid bipartisan pressure on the Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the release of Epstein-related files, which lawmakers say are required under a law passed earlier this year.
Trump administration officials have said the remaining materials would be released, with Congress expected to return from its holiday recess next week.
The DOJ, however, disclosed last week that officials in New York located more than one million additional documents potentially tied to Epstein investigations, a development that could delay disclosure for several weeks.
Swalwell has also accused Trump of using the federal government to target political opponents, claims he reiterated in a Monday post on X.
“Donald Trump once again is trying to weaponize the department of justice to go after his ‘Enemies List,’” Swalwell said in a video, naming figures such as Adam Schiff, Letitia James, Lisa Cook, and himself.
🚨 JUST IN: An enraged Rep. Eric Swalwell is sending a warning shot to MAGA, declaring he's "going on OFFENSE" by "sending a letter to Susie Wiles"
"Save your sht. Your emails, everything. Because we're coming for it! We're not going away!"
😭🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/q5AKfSsJAG
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 30, 2025
“Why is he doing this? Because we had the nerve to stand up to his corruption,” he continued, adding that Trump adviser Susie Wiles had acknowledged the president’s appetite for retribution.
“We want the truth. What did Trump know? What did he order? What did others do on his behalf? We’re not going away,” Swalwell wrote.
While Swalwell remains a frequent presence on cable news and social media, his record on Capitol Hill has drawn renewed scrutiny.
According to voting data, Swalwell has skipped more House votes than any active member of Congress.
Reporting from the Sacramento Bee has also noted that he has been rarely seen in Washington, D.C., since launching his campaign.
Nonpartisan data from GovTrack show that out of 342 House roll call votes in 2025, Swalwell has missed 95 since January, not counting committee absences.
Between Sept. 19 and Tuesday, the data indicate he missed 50 of 61 votes, an absence rate of 82 percent, with his last recorded vote cast on Nov. 18.
Overall figures show that since entering Congress, Swalwell has missed more than 550 votes out of 7,253.
While the average House member misses roughly 2.1 percent of votes, GovTrack data place Swalwell’s rate at 7.7 percent.
