California State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, is facing demands to step down from her position as chair of the Senate Education Committee following her appearance at an immigration summit alongside a former professor who made contentious remarks about an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
During the La Defensa Del Pueblo summit, Cal State LA professor Melina Abdullah identified an ICE agent, shared his hotel's street address, and repeatedly told the crowd to "f--- him up." Abdullah later clarified the phrase could include exposing immigration agents or making them uncomfortable and also encouraged attendees to "study guerrilla warfare."
Following Abdullah's remarks, Pérez, who identified Abdullah as a former professor, took the stage. Video footage that has circulated online shows Pérez speaking after Abdullah's comments, though Pérez has stated the video was edited and that her reaction was to separate comments about the courage of young people, not to Abdullah's remarks about the ICE agent.
Elizabeth Barcohana, a California Republican Party delegate and attorney, called for Pérez's removal, stating, "I believe Pérez should be removed as chair of education committee." Barcohana also linked Pérez's attendance at the summit to her legislative record, specifically citing SB 98, the Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act. This law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2025, requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify their communities about the presence of immigration enforcement authorities on campus.
Barcohana argued on social media that Pérez, as chair of the Education Committee, authored legislation that would turn California schools into participants in ICE resistance. Pérez's office previously stated that SB 98 was a response to the Trump administration's elimination of guidance limiting immigration enforcement in areas like schools and framed it as a measure to address fears among immigrant students and parents.
Pérez issued a statement responding to the controversy, asserting, "I unequivocally condemn violence in all its forms, regardless of whom it targets. I do not support, endorse, or condone violence against anyone, and my silence during another panelist’s remarks must never be misrepresented as agreement." She added, "Each speaker is responsible for their own words. A highly edited video circulating online falsely suggests I was smiling in response to violent remarks directed toward an ICE agent. The full video makes clear that my reaction was to separate comments about the courage of young people. Any suggestion that I share, endorse, or condone violence is false."
Pérez also detailed her broader stance on immigration, stating, "I have consistently opposed the federal government’s cruel immigration enforcement practices while also unequivocally opposing violence in all forms including violence by government agents that took the life of Keith Porter Jr. and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and violence by political extremists that took the life of Charlie Kirk. Political disagreement is not a license for racism, intimidation, or violence. I will continue to fight for civil rights through lawful, democratic action, and I will never condone violence."
Melina Abdullah is a professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA and a leader with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. Pérez earned degrees in political science and economics from Cal State LA before entering public service.
In response to SB 98, a DHS spokesperson stated that the law was a "political stunt designed to create fear, interfere with law enforcement, and shield those who have violated our nation’s law." The spokesperson added that federal officers would continue enforcing federal law and that "No state law will prevent federal officers from protecting American communities."