Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker Is an Illegal Immigrant, Officials Confirm

David DePape, center, films in San Francisco, Calif., on Dec. 19, 2013. Eric Risberg/AP Photo

The man who allegedly attacked Paul Pelosi is an illegal immigrant, U.S. officials have confirmed.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer on Canadian national David DePape with San Francisco County Jail, Nov. 1, following his Oct. 28 arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told The Epoch Times in an email.

DHS is the parent agency of ICE, which is tasked with removing people who are in the United States illegally.

Immigration detainers are placed on suspects who are illegal immigrants. They are meant to prevent state or local officials from releasing the suspects.

If a suspect is due to be released, the detainer means officials hand over the person to federal officials, unless local officials defy the request.

Adam Lipson, DePape’s public defender, indicated after DePape’s arraignment this week that he was representing an illegal immigrant.

“He currently has a federal hold so he can’t be released anyway,” Lipson told reporters when asked about the motion for no bail entered by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

Lipson could not be reached for comment.

A Canadian government spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that Canadian officials “are engaging with local authorities” but declined to provide more information.

“Nobody in America should be victimized by an illegal alien. The illegal alien crime rate here should be exactly 0.0%,” the National Border Patrol Council, the Border Patrol’s union, said in a statement.

Immigration records show DePape entered the United States in March 2008 as a temporary visitor.

Canadians are generally admitted without a visa if they are visiting for business or pleasure and can typically stay in the United States for up to six months.

DePape is set to appear again in San Francisco court on Friday.

In an aerial view, San Francisco police officers and FBI agents gather in front of the home of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Allegations

According to charging documents and the motion to detain, DePape broke into the Pelosi residence early Oct. 28 and found Paul Pelosi in a bedroom. DePape asked about Paul Pelosi’s wife, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Paul Pelosi said she was not there. According to the U.S. Capitol Police, Nancy Pelosi was in Washington.

DePape later assaulted Paul Pelosi in front of police officers who responded to a 911 call Paul Pelosi made.

DePape told officers that he was “sick of the insane [expletive] level of lies coming out of Washington, D.C.,” and that he “came here to have a little chat” with Nancy Pelosi, according to court documents. DePape said he intended to take Nancy Pelosi hostage and ask her questions. If she did not tell the truth, he said, he would break her kneecaps.

DePape said that Nancy Pelosi would then have to be wheeled into Congress, “which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,” according to an FBI affidavit supporting the federal charges against the man.

DePape also said he wanted to use Nancy Pelosi to “lure” another person to the scene, but authorities have not identified that person. DePape had multiple targets, including a local professor, according to the district attorney’s office.

DePape pleaded not guilty to all state charges, including attempted murder, on Tuesday. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.