Tensions amongst immigrant populations in the Bay Area have already increased as a result of President Donald Trump’s pledges of mass deportations.
Concerns were heightened in San Francisco on Thursday after a fabricated claim surfaced that an ICE agent had confronted a middle school student on a Muni bus.
The San Francisco Unified School District even mentioned the event in a letter to families before it was disproved, demonstrating how quickly the word spread despite confirmations from SFPD and Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office on Friday that the claimed interaction did not occur.
According to Bill Ong Hing, “instilling fear is part of their playbook, and it’s working,”
Hing founded the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic and serves as its director.
He acknowledges the worries but advises prudence.
Ong Hing thinks it’s important to avoid allowing deportation anxieties to drive people to take drastic steps, even though many undocumented people are dealing with them.
“Get your kids off to school. Leave for work. “ICE is incapable of carrying out the actions it is threatening to take,” Ong Hing stated.
Even though the Visitacion Valley Middle School student’s allegation of an ICE agent getting on an SFMTA Muni bus was untrue, the immigrant community was deeply alarmed by the social media posts that presented the rumor as reality.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie stated, “We are in contact with community leaders and will communicate with the public because we understand that people are afraid.”
“We are confident and relieved that there was no federal immigration enforcement action on a Muni bus yesterday, following a comprehensive multi-agency assessment. The Mayor’s Office released a statement that stated, “At the same time, the fear in our community is real, and that fear makes all of San Francisco less safe.”
The Trump administration revoked a Biden-era regulation a few days ago that shielded hospitals, schools, and places of worship from immigration enforcement.
When targeting and apprehending people, ICE said it considers a variety of characteristics, such as their criminal and immigration histories.
“There is no capacity to carry out the wholesale deportation of 10 to 12 million people that Mr. Trump mentioned. “They can’t do that because they don’t have enough resources, detention facilities, or immigration judges,” Ong Hing stated.
Regarding the immigrant community, former FBI agent Jeff Harp stated that the first step is to confirm that the individual is law enforcement.
“If they don’t show you ID and indicate why they’re there or show you ID that shows that they’re actual immigration and customs enforcement agents, then you don’t as a person here in the U.S. have to identify yourself,” Harp stated.
According to the San Francisco hotline that offers emergency legal aid to anyone detained by ICE, over 50 calls were placed on Thursday, the majority of which were regarding ICE officials on a MUNI bus.
It claims to receive four to five calls on an average day.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.