David DePape, Accused Pelosi Attacker, Could Be Deported: DHS

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) submitted an immigration detainer on Canadian national David DePape — the man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi Friday — which could lead to his deportation, the agency told Patch.

DePape entered the US through San Ysidro on March 8, 2008 as a temporary visitor, ICE said, adding that immigration detainers are placed on people who have been arrested on criminal charges and are believed to be removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The agency added that the detailer requests that law enforcement notify ICE before the individual is released, so that ICE can safely take custody of that person.

As previously reported, 42-year-old David DePape, the man accused of brutally attacking 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, made his first public appearance since the incident when he attended a court hearing Tuesday with his lawyer, who entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

DePape only spoke to tell Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name (dih-PAP’). The defendant is scheduled to return to court Friday.

DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse, as well as federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official after being accused of attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer after breaking into the Pelosi home. DePape admitted to authorities that he wanted to break Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps to show other lawmakers there were "consequences to their actions," according to the Department of Justice.

San Francisco police officers responded to the Pacific Heights residence of House Speaker and longtime Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi around 2:27 a.m. Friday when they saw both Paul Pelosi and DePape holding a hammer.

DePape pulled the hammer away and violently assaulted Paul Pelosi, according to police. Officers tackled and disarmed him before he was taken into custody.

DePape’s assault charge carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence, and his kidnapping charge carries an additional 20 years maximum, the Department of Justice said.

In an affidavit supporting probable cause, federal officials gave more details about the attack and what may have motivated DePape.