{"id":45399,"date":"2025-12-03T11:17:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=45399"},"modified":"2025-12-03T11:17:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:17:46","slug":"fewer-arrests-fewer-judges-how-the-ice-crackdown-has-changed-in-s-f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/fewer-arrests-fewer-judges-how-the-ice-crackdown-has-changed-in-s-f\/","title":{"rendered":"Fewer arrests, fewer judges: How the ICE crackdown has changed in S.F."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Black\"Aby\u00a0Neil G. Ballard<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Sage R\u00edos Mace<\/a><\/strong> December 2, 2025 (MissionLocal.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Immigration enforcement has taken twists and turns in San Francisco. Illustration by Neil Ballard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In September, we published an illustrated look back<\/a> at how immigration enforcement<\/a> changed in San Francisco during the nine months since President Donald Trump took office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the three months since, it\u2019s changed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fall and winter, there have been fewer arrests in San Francisco, but also far fewer judges: The Trump administration has fired 12 of the city\u2019s immigration judges, leaving its courts with only nine to hear more than 120,000 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mission<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Want the latest on the Mission and San Francisco? Sign up for our free daily newsletter<\/strong> below.Sign up<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several city supervisors made a point to visit Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in the city; one supervisor was denied entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s happened since September, as illustrated by Neil Ballard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Sept. 8: ICE makes largest single-court arrest<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrest eight Colombian asylum-seekers in what attorneys say was the largest single-morning arrest to date at San Francisco\u2019s immigration court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One woman nearly avoided arrest, but ICE agents intercepted her in the hallway, demanding her name. A social worker, accompanying the woman, asked to see their warrant, which agents later produced before arresting her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 18:  <\/strong>ICE arrests another seven, two without lawyers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICE arrests seven more people at 630 Sansome St. One Mexican woman, whose case was dismissed, was detained moments after her hearing. A family member who drove her to court said that on the drive she had been \u201cso anxious that she turned pale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 19: Man with 10-by-12-inch tumor escapes ICE detention, for now<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICE arrests six asylum-seekers after federal attorneys moved to dismiss their cases. One man narrowly escapes arrest, saying he was in the Bay Area for medical treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 25: Supervisor Fielder visits immigration court, concerned over conditions<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICE arrests four more people following their immigration hearings, as District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder visits the court. Fielder says she is \u201cconcerned\u201d by the ongoing arrests and pledges to secure additional funding for legal  services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 26: ICE slams man against wall in mistaken arrest<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICE arrests three people. One man tells Judge Joseph Park, \u201cI need more time. I am afraid to return to Venezuela,\u201d but federal attorneys still move to dismiss his case. Later that morning, eyewitnesses say that ICE agents slammed another man, who had not<\/em> received a motion to dismiss, against the hallway wall \u2014 before realizing they had the wrong person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 10: Supervisor Dorsey tours ICE office, pledging aid for asylum-seekers<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supervisor Matt Dorsey visits the court and tours ICE\u2019s sixth-floor holding facility. He, too, pledges to locate funding streams for immigration legal services and urges philanthropists and law firms to contribute funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 16: Supervisor Chyanne Chen also tours ICE facility as immigrants go into hiding<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supervisor Chyanne Chen tours the 630 Sansome St. immigration court and tours the sixth-floor ICE facility, saying the holding cells left her \u201cdeeply emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 23: Live updates: Trump announces, then scraps, federal push in San Francisco<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mission Local <\/em>joins forces with El Tecolote<\/em> to provide live reporting as Customs and Border Protection agents arrive at an Alameda Coast Guard base. By late morning, the federal surge is called off. By 3 p.m., the city announces an additional $3.5 million for immigrant legal defense and the Rapid Response Network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Five<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 29: ICE arrests decline sharply<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milli Atkinson, an attorney of the Bar Association of San Francisco, says no arrests had occurred at 630 Sansome St. since Oct. 3. Some attorneys believe that the sharp reduction may be tied to a series of successful habeas petitions filed on behalf of detained immigrants since August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct. 31: Guards turn away San Francisco supervisor trying to tour ICE facility<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

District 4 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood attempts to tour the ICE office, but is denied entry until 10:30 a.m. But no one shows up  for morning hearings, a pattern local attorneys attribute to clients\u2019 fear of courthouse arrests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nov. 6: ICE arrests asylum-seeker at S.F. immigration court after weeks without detentions<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a sharp reduction in San Francisco\u2019s courthouse arrests, ICE arrests one woman at 630 Sansome St. The woman had flown in from Texas for her 10:30 a.m. hearing and appeared without an attorney. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nov. 21: Five immigration judges are fired in Friday Night Massacre<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five immigration judges are fired in San Francisco. The Trump administration says it is now looking to hire \u201cdeportation judges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only nine immigration judges remain in San Francisco, down from 21 earlier this year. The case backlog<\/a> is the worst in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nov. 25: Federal court tells ICE to immediate improve conditions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups sued<\/a> ICE \u2014 alleging its San Francisco holding cells were frigid, filthy, and unfit for long-term stays \u2014 a federal court says the agency has to immediately improve conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge writes that conditions are likely \u201cunconstitutionally punitive in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Valencia<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Three<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Keep Mission Local free by making a tax-deductible donation today!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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about:blank<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donate<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latest on Immigration enforcement<\/mark><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"S.F.<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

S.F. has largest backlog of immigration cases in California. Here\u2019s why.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Court<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Court orders ICE to immediately provide mattresses, blankets, medical care in S.F. holding cells  <\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"S.F.<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

S.F. packs court for case against ending Temporary Protected Status<\/a><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neil G. Ballard<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

neilgballard@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil G. Ballard is a cartoonist and muralist living and working in San Francisco, California.More by Neil G. Ballard<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sage R\u00edos Mace<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

sage@missionlocal.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m covering immigration for Mission Local and got my start in journalism with El Tecolote. Most recently, I completed a long-term investigation for El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in San Juan, PR and I am excited to see where journalism takes me next. Off the clock, I can be found rollerblading through Golden Gate Park or reading under the trees with my cat, Mano.More by Sage R\u00edos Mace<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Neil G. Ballard\u00a0and\u00a0Sage R\u00edos Mace December 2, 2025 (MissionLocal.org) In September, we published an illustrated look back at how immigration enforcement changed in San Francisco during the nine months since President Donald Trump took office. In the three months since, it\u2019s changed again. In the fall and winter, there have been fewer arrests in… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45399"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45399"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45400,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45399\/revisions\/45400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}