SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco residents took to the streets on Wednesday, February 28 afternoon to protest the recent action of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where raids were conducted as a part of President Trump’s initiative to reform immigration policy.
Hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the agency’s offices on Sansome Street between Washington and Jackson.
Power, Not Panic Emergency Response Committee, a coalition for immigrants rights, scheduled the rally. Authorities began a series of raids to arrest undocumented immigrants residing in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, starting on Sunday, February 25. Upwards of 150 people were taken into custody in violation of federal U.S. immigration laws.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued a statement warning residents that raids were forthcoming. There are an estimated 800 people still wanted by officials. The acting director of ICE, Tom Homan, publicly condemned Schaaf’s decision to warn residents, and is looking into the possibility that Schaaf obstructed justice.
On Wednesday afternoon, ICE released a statement to the media noting that they support First Amendment rights of all people to protest, and that they do not conduct sweeps to target people indiscriminately. Current protests are linked to the debate over ‘Sanctuary Cities’ in the United States that do not assist federal immigration authorities with capturing undocumented immigrants.
