The man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband is in the country illegally from Canada and could be deported, immigration officials say

The 42-year-old suspect is a Canadian citizen who entered the country legally in 2008 along the California-Mexico border, feds say.

• The man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi was in the United States illegally and faces possible deportation.
• David DePape is a 42-year-old Canadian national who entered the US in 2008 before settling in California. 
• He faces both federal and state charges in connection to last week's attack on Pelosi.

The man accused of violently attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer during a break-in at the couple's San Francisco, California, home is a Canadian national who was in the United States illegally and now faces deportation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

David DePape, 42, faces federal and state charges over last week's attack on Paul Pelosi, which left the 82-year-old man hospitalized with a skull fracture and other injuries. 

According to the DHS, federal records show that DePape entered the US legally on March 8, 2008, at the San Ysidro port of entry along the California-Mexico border.

It's unclear why DePape — who is from Canada — entered the US through a southern border crossing, and DHS did not immediately respond to additional follow-up questions.

DePape ultimately settled in California. 

DePape, who remains in jail without bail, came to the US as a temporary visitor; Canadians who visit the country for business or pleasure are generally permitted to stay in the US for 6 months, according to DHS. 

Canadians traveling to the US for business or pleasure typically don't require a visa.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is housed under DHS, lodged an "immigration detainer" on DePape on Monday following DePape's Friday arrest, a DHS spokesperson told Insider. 

ICE puts so-called immigration detainers on people who've been arrested on criminal charges and whom ICE believe could be deported under the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

The detainer asks other law enforcement agencies to notify ICE before the person in question is released from custody so that ICE can take custody of that person. 

Prosecutors say DePape sought to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage when he broke into the Pelosi home and told investigators that he wanted to break her kneecaps to send a message to other Democratic members of Congress. 

The House speaker was in Washington, DC at the time of the attack.

The Justice Department has filed two federal charges against DePape, including the attempted kidnapping of a US official, while state charges against the man include attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. 

DePape faces 50 years in prison if convicted on both federal charges against him.