As the Trump administration threatens to fulfill campaign pledges for more immigration enforcement, San Francisco officials reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary status on Tuesday.
At a gathering late Tuesday morning on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, authorities stated that while they were not bringing the fight, they were prepared to do so if necessary.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, City Attorney David Chiu, and other labor and community leaders stood with a message. Public Defender Mano Raju, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott were all in attendance.
Lurie, who assumed office earlier this month, stated, “Even though we are in a difficult time right now, I am inspired to see so many of us come together to support our neighbors.” “Our immigrant communities are valued in San Francisco. You live in this city. And know that no matter where you come from, I and everyone else here will keep working to ensure that it continues to be a safe and welcoming home for all families.”
“Our foreign workers and their families need to trust us in order to be safe. “Our police officers are not ICE agents, and our victims and witnesses need to know that,” Chiu stated. Enforcing immigration laws is the duty of the federal government. Neither the state nor municipal governments are in charge of it. When resources are limited, we must prioritize fighting crime rather than severing families.
“I want to make some things very clear,” Scott stated. “The San Francisco Police Department does not support immigration raids, to start with… Public safety is not enhanced by targeting immigrants who have established homes, companies, and families here; on the contrary, it has the opposite effect. People are afraid to use other public services, report crimes, or get necessary medical care. Children become scared to attend school as a result.
The event also included Olga Miranda, head of SEIU Local 87, which represents janitors. According to Miranda, late Friday afternoon, ICE agents reportedly arrived at two private office buildings in San Francisco.
“Two buildings were confirmed. ICE had to enter one building twice. They arrived with an arrest warrant the second time. As soon as they entered the first building, they were turned away. ‘Who are you?’ they were questioned. They were unable to access any of the floors without a badge. “So, this is how everything happened,” she stated.
Miranda continued, “They’re being really slick. Their jackets were not on. Nothing that said “police” was on them. However, they were questioned for their plaques and badges. We were able to confirm in this way.
In 1989, San Francisco passed the sanctuary city policy, which forbids local organizations from aiding federal law enforcement, such as ICE.
A few weeks ago, Supervisor Jackie Fielder proposed a resolution to make sure San Francisco reiterates its sanctuary city stance. At Tuesday’s board meeting, the resolution was formally approved by a unanimous vote of the ten more members of the Board of Supervisors, who joined as co-sponsors.
“What that should communicate to Trump and to anyone that wants to see us roll back is that we are not going back,” Fielder stated. “No matter your status, you deserve to feel safe and that is exactly what sanctuary is about.”
Sanctuary cities are currently being targeted by the House Oversight Committee, which is chaired by the Republican Party. In two weeks, the mayors of New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Denver will be asked to testify in a committee hearing.
James Comer, a representative from Kentucky and the chair of the committee, wrote a letter on Monday stating that federal law enforcement is unable to make safe arrests and remove offenders from communities due to foolish and obstructionist policies.
The Bay Area migrant population is experiencing increased concern as a result of the Trump administration’s immigration rhetoric.
According to city officials, a Colombian national was apprehended as a result of an operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in San Jose on Sunday. City school authorities brought up the incident in a letter to families on Thursday after a false report of ICE officers on a Muni bus in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley was refuted.
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.