By Alise Maripuu. Bay City News.
Hundreds of people from local unions, nonprofits, law enforcement and city government gathered on the steps outside San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday to reaffirm the city's sanctuary policy and unite against President Donald Trump's nationwide deportations of undocumented immigrants.
“In San Francisco, we value our immigrant communities. We recognize your contributions to our city and we stand with you,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “This city is your home.”
Since Trump took office just over a week ago, deportations have increased across the country, just as he promised during his campaign. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out several raids across California, including in the Bay Area.
On Friday, ICE reportedly conducted raids in downtown San Francisco, according to state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Olga Miranda, president of SEIU Local 87. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan confirmed that ICE was also active in his city on Sunday.
“We are not going to be driven by fear,” shouted Roberto Hernandez, a community leader from the city’s Mission District. “Please send your children to school, don’t be afraid! Go to church, don’t be afraid!”
The purpose of Tuesday's press conference was to demonstrate that many city leaders have no intention of assisting federal efforts to remove illegal immigrants.
Lurie, Police Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, City Attorney David Chiu and Public Defender Mano Raju were just a few of the many local officials who spoke during the event to establish their commitment to complying with the sanctuary city policy.
“I want to make some things very clear,” Scott said. “First, the San Francisco Police Department does not assist in immigration raids… Targeting immigrants who have built families, businesses and homes here does not improve public safety, but does exactly the opposite. It makes people afraid to report crimes, get necessary medical care or use other city services. It makes children afraid to go to school.”
San Francisco's sanctuary city policy was enacted in 1989 to prevent local agencies from assisting federal authorities like ICE in enforcing immigration law.
However, federal immigration authorities still have the power to carry out their own deportations in the city.
Additionally, state prisons and county jails may cooperate and share information with ICE if they release an undocumented immigrant connected to violent crimes.
“My office is unique in that we are the only one that can communicate with federal immigration officials if they ask when a serious or violent criminal is going to be released from our custody and only if that person meets very specific criteria,” said San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. “Unfortunately, there are people who commit crimes here, including those in the immigrant community. Sometimes, people are held accountable for that.”
Supervisor Jackie Fielder introduced a resolution a few weeks ago to ensure that San Francisco reaffirms its sanctuary city policy. The other 10 members of the Board of Supervisors joined as co-sponsors of the resolution and officially approved it in a unanimous vote at Tuesday’s board meeting.
“What this should say to Trump and anyone who wants us to back down is that we are not going to back down,” Fielder said. “No matter your status, you deserve to feel safe and that is exactly what sanctuary is all about.”
The strong turnout at Tuesday's rally, including many local leaders, provided a sense of relief to some members of the immigrant community.
“I’m not scared anymore,” Hernandez said. “Our sheriff is here, the public defender is here, the district attorney is here. The firefighters are here, all the unions are here. We’re in this together, so I feel safe.”
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