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California state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, faced a call Sunday to lose her chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee after appearing at an immigration summit alongside a former professor who repeatedly told the crowd to "f--- up" a named ICE agent.
Video from last Sunday’s La Defensa Del Pueblo summit showed California State University, Los Angeles, professor Melina Abdullah identifying an ICE agent, saying he "may be staying" at a local Hilton Garden Inn and giving the crowd the hotel’s street address.
Abdullah repeatedly said to "f--- him up" before later explaining the phrase could include exposing immigration agents or making them uncomfortable. She also encouraged attendees to "study guerrilla warfare."
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California Republican Party delegate and attorney Elizabeth Barcohana told Fox News Digital on Sunday that Pérez should no longer lead the Senate committee responsible for education policy.
"I believe Pérez should be removed as chair of education committee," Barcohana said.
Abdullah is a professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA and a leader of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. The university describes Abdullah as a "scholar-activist" who views her academic role as connected to broader activist movements.
After Abdullah’s remarks, Pérez took the microphone and referenced their former professor-student relationship.
"Y’all, it’s really hard to follow up my old college professor, Dr. Melina Abdullah… It’s such an honor to share space with you and to be able to sit next to you here," Pérez said.
Perez responded last week to suggestions that she was smiling at the professor's remarks, saying the video was edited.
"I unequivocally condemn violence in all its forms, regardless of who uses it or 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. 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," Perez said, according to Los Angeles County Politics.
"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."
Pérez earned degrees in political science and economics from Cal State LA before entering public service.
Barcohana also linked Pérez’s appearance alongside Abdullah to the senator’s role as chair of the Senate Education Committee and her record on immigration enforcement at California schools.
In a post about the summit, Barcohana specifically pointed to legislation Pérez authored requiring schools to issue alerts about immigration enforcement activity.
"Most relevant to this weekend’s summit, Pérez authored the bill that would turn California schools into participants in ICE resistance, rather than a neutral and safe learning environment for children," Barcohana said on X.
"As Chair of the Education committee, Pérez saw to it that the antisemitism bill in the California legislature was rendered completely useless to its intended purpose of protecting Jewish students from harassment, discrimination, and intimidation. The bill was necessary because antisemitic incidents have increased over 600% in California K-12 schools."
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Pérez authored SB 98, the Sending Alerts to Families in Education, or SAFE, Act, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in September 2025. The law requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify campus communities when immigration enforcement authorities are present on campus.
When Pérez introduced the bill in January 2025, her office said the proposal came in response to the Trump administration eliminating Biden-era guidance limiting immigration enforcement in certain "protected areas," including schools.
Pérez framed the measure as a response to concerns among immigrant students and parents about federal enforcement.
"The Trump administration has made clear that no place is safe from mass deportations. Students and parents are rightfully scared," Pérez said. "We will not be silent."
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Newsom signed the legislation with an urgency clause, putting it into effect immediately. Pérez’s office has described the notifications as similar to warning systems used for other campus emergencies.
Pérez also criticized federal immigration authorities in 2025 when responding to plans for immigration enforcement agencies to participate in a Cal Poly Pomona career fair.
"ICE should have no place on our campuses," Pérez said.
A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Governor Newsom continues to refuse to do his job to protect his citizens from illegal alien crime and instead chooses to smear our law enforcement."
"California politicians should focus on educating students, not turning classrooms into sanctuaries for illegal aliens. SB98 is a political stunt designed to create fear, interfere with law enforcement, and shield those who have violated our nation’s law. DHS will continue enforcing the laws Congress passed, and enforcing federal law when necessary, consistent with the Constitution and all applicable legal requirements. No state law will prevent federal officers from protecting American communities."
"While the media and sanctuary politicians try and spread falsehoods and demean DHS law enforcement, the men and woman of DHS are risking their lives and safety to arrest illegal criminal aliens that are victimizing Americans. Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you," the spokesperson added.
Republican California state Sen. Tony Strickland also said in comments to Fox News Digital, "The most essential role of government is public safety. As a legislator, I firmly stand with the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. Political disagreement does not justify intimidation or putting an officer and his family at risk. While free speech is a fundamental right, credible threats or targeted harassment must be taken seriously and investigated based on the facts and the law."
Fox News Digital reached out to Pérez, Abdullah, and Cal State Los Angeles for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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