Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee says situation ‘fluid,’ and confirms ‘I haven’t heard from the president’
12:40 Trump’s conversation with Mayor Lurie answers some questions, raises others
At noon, Mayor Daniel Lurie, city department heads,and supervisors gathered in the mayor’s office to address President Donald Trump’s decision to call off the “surge” of San Francisco.
What exactly that “surge” would look like did not seem to have been defined over the course of Lurie’s conversation with Trump.
Lurie did not give answers to which federal agents would no longer be coming to the city — whether it be the National Guard, the border patrol agents, ICE — or all of them.
Lurie also said that his conversation did not include what will happen to other Bay Area cities.
“I was told the surge was being called off,” Lurie said. “He only spoke about San Francisco. So all I can say is what he told me.”
In addition to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Lurie said he has also spoken with United States Attorney General Pam Bondi about working together to “hold drug traffickers accountable.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that he called Lurie after speaking with Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO — who on Oct. 9 called for the National Guard to come to San Francisco — and Jensen Huang, the president and CEO of NVIDIA.
Lurie said that he had not asked anyone to make calls on San Francisco’s behalf — “he picked up the phone and called me.”
Lurie affirmed that even with the “surge” called off for now, San Francisco will remain ready.
“I think we as a city should be prepared for any scenario,” Lurie said.
— Io Yeh Gilman and Xueer Lu, Mission Local
12:20 p.m.: Oakland mayor unsure if The Town is still a target
Oakland mayor Barbara Lee tells Mission Local that the situation is “fluid” and “all we know is what the press is reporting.” She confirms that “I haven’t heard from the president.”
Following a briefing from Lurie’s office, area politicians believe that the area will return for whatever passes as the “status quo.” There is no indication feds will instead raid nearby Bay Area cities. But there is no assurance that it won’t happen.
Meanwhile, Immigration enforcement activity has risen sharply in Oakland, according to Alameda County’s Rapid Response Network (ACILEP). It reported that its call volume increased from an average of 10 calls a day to 50 by 11:30 a.m.
Neither the Asian Law Caucus nor the Rapid Response networks in San Francisco or San Mateo County could confirm whether the cancellation of a federal deployment in San Francisco also included a stand-down of planned immigration operations in the region.
“No one knows for sure right now” whether Trump’s immigration enforcement will escalate across the Bay Area, said Lauren Nguyen of the Asian Law Caucus said.
— Beatriz Johnston, El Tecolote and Joe Eskenazi, Mission Local
12.01 p.m.: Despite news that the president has called off federal agents from entering San Francisco, at least 100 protesters gathered at City Hall for a rally at noon.
One man, Noah, came all the way from Sacramento, where he has been protesting daily outside an ICE facility where he believes people are being detained.
He said he wasn’t affiliated with an organization, and it has been just “me myself and I, and a couple of friends that are passionate about human rights.”
— Eleni Balakrishnan, Mission Local
10:00 a.m.: Plans to deploy federal officers in San Francisco have been called off, according to a statement from Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Lurie wrote that he received a phone call from President Donald Trump last night, though he waited to release the statement till 9:30 a.m. this morning. What arrangements preceded that call are not known.
“In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning,” he wrote.
“My team will continue to monitor the situation closely, and our city remains prepared for any scenario.”
Yesterday, I spoke to San Franciscans about a potential federal deployment in our city. I said then what I have said since taking office, that keeping San Franciscans safe is my top priority.
Late last night, I received a phone call from the President of the United States. I…
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) October 23, 2025
Shortly thereafter, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social saying “we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday.” He attributed this decision to “friends of mine who live in the area,” naming Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. His post ended: “Stay tuned!”
Advocates say the change only affects the potential National Guard or military deployment, not ICE or Customs and Border Patrol operations.
Border patrol agents already have federal authority to operate in any U.S. city, while National Guard troops generally require legal authorization for domestic use, though those limits have weakened under Trump-appointed judges.
The fate of other Bay Area cities was not mentioned. Mission Local‘s message for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee has not yet been returned.
Protesters march outside Coast Guard Island
10:03 a.m. — Trump says federal agents “will not surge” S.F.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that after a phone call with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie last night, the federal government “will not surge San Francisco on Saturday.”
The post follows days of uncertainty and online rumors that Trump was planning a mass raid at a Home Depot within 40 miles of San Francisco this weekend.
Trump wrote that “friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me not to go forward with the surge” because Lurie was making “substantial progress” on crime. He added that business leaders, including Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff, had contacted him to express optimism about the city’s recovery.
Still, organizers and advocates are urging caution, noting that Trump’s statement does not necessarily rule out immigration enforcement or other federal activity in the region. They emphasize that people in surrounding cities should stay alert and prepared in case the situation changes.
—Erika Carlos, Tecolote
9:55 a.m. — At a food bank in the Mission
Claudia woke up to news of the arrival of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Coast Guard base in Alameda. “The volunteers are fearful right now, “ she said in Spanish. She stood outside of La Ofrenda, a community space that offers free groceries to San Francisco residents. Behind her, about four other volunteers unpacked cardboard boxes of food.
“I feel bad that right now ICE is detaining anyone irrespective of if they have documents or not,” she continued. “They will detain you if you speak Spanish and look Latino or are brown.”
Roberto Eligió Alfaro, executive director of the non-profit Homey S.F., which supports Ofrenda, said that they now serve 200 families, but fear of ICE is keeping some home. Since the start of last month, Alfaro and José Luis Pavón have also helped operate Defensa Del Barrio, a patrol that visits neighbors in the Mission to inform them of their rights if they encounter ICE. They’ve met with about 50 businesses as well as a hundred families. “We cannot bow down to fear,” said Pavón in Spanish. “That is what Trump wants.”
Over on the 14 Muni, a woman from Daly City said in Spanish, “Truthfully, I’m not fearful about this. I’m OK.”
Others expressed worry over the news. An elderly man named Terry said he was worried that if President Trump cuts EBT and other resources he relies on, he and his neighbors could “end up on the streets.”
“If they’re coming to intimidate and toughen us up, I’ve got a problem with that,” Terry said, of CBPs arrival. “I know a lot of people that I haven’t seen lately, and I think they know that ICE is coming and that they’ve gone underground.” He added, “It makes me feel bad; it’s them, but it could be me next.”
“The world is messed up, period,” added Douglas, another man. “It’s going to take a while to fix it.”
— Sage Ríos Mace, Mission Local
9:45 a.m. — Alameda Fire Department outside Coast Guard Island
A fire truck and two other Alameda Fire Department vehicles arrive at the intersection of Dennison Street and Embarcadero. They’re met with protesters.
Officers say they’ve arrived to take someone who was injured on the island to the hospital. Soon after, a man who was not involved in the protest is wheeled through the crowd on a stretcher.
The size of the crowd dwindles, but at 11 a.m. protesters are still circling the intersection. What appears to be pieces of a white vehicle and a flash grenade canister still litter the road, on both sides of the U.S. government property line.
—Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia, Mission Local
9:30 a.m. — Lurie says Trump “calling off” plans for federal deployment
Plans to deploy federal troops to San Francisco have been called off, according to a statement from Mayor Daniel Lurie released at 9:30 a.m. today.
—Kelly Waldron, Mission Local
9:20 a.m. — In the Mission, some workers stay home, others taking the risk
In the Mission District, many Latino-owned businesses are shuttered. Despite widespread fear, some street vendors continue to sell, and a few stores remain open.
“Since yesterday, there are fewer people out,” said street vendor María V. “They’re very scared.”
María said she’s part of several neighborhood groups keeping watch for any potential presence of federal agents. Some workers who spoke to El Tecolote anonymously said they were required to come into work, but hoped their employers would soon decide to close.
—Erika Carlos, Tecolote
9 a.m. — Protesters singing
As the sun rises, the mood shifts from a standoff in the dark to skipping in the streets; literally, there’s a jump rope. Parents have brought their children. The crowd thins out slightly.
One protester wears a Stewie Griffin mask, another an inflatable chicken suit with a sign that says “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Faith leaders sing “We Shall Overcome” while a clown makes balloon animals.
—Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia, Mission Local
Photo by Mariana Garcia. October 23, 2025
Photo by Mariana Garcia. October 23, 2025
Photo by Mariana Garcia. October 23, 2025
Photo by Mariana Garcia. October 23, 2025
Photo by Mariana Garcia. October 23, 2025
Alameda, October 23, 2025, Photo by Mariana Garcia
Alameda, October 23, 2025, Photo by Mariana Garcia
7:30 a.m. — Vehicle injures protester
The scene is less tense, but even more crowded, with at least 100 people.
Protesters continue to move back and forth along the crosswalk dividing the road to Coast Guard Island, but their numbers have grown, and the pace has slowed to a shuffle.
The road is now impassable. There is a line of cars backed up along Embarcadero East.
One protester, Matthew, 50, limps away from the crosswalk. He says he was struck by the driver of a SUV, who refused to immediately back up when the crowd blocked the road.
“I’m still taking it in. I feel okay. I feel really proud of people standing up here against fascism,” he says. He sits on the curb and props up his leg, which is red.
Leaders reorganize the crowd to keep people moving around four crosswalks at the intersection of Embarcadero East and Dennison St. Observers with the National Lawyers’ Guild take notes to send to attorneys, if needed.
—Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia, Mission Local
A protester injured by an SUV. October 23, 2025 Photo Mariana Garcia
Matthew Leber, who was run over on his ankle by a man in a large SUV, being helped by fellow protesters. October 23, 2025. Photo by Mariana Garcia
7:15 a.m. — Crowd blocks Border Patrol vehicles, flash grenades deployed
Protestors block a large white vehicle attempting to drive down the one road onto Coast Guard Island, despite organizers’ instructions to keep walking.
An officer gets between the vehicle and the crowd. Other cars start honking. Protesters are told to stay back from the blue paint designating U.S. government property beyond the crosswalk.
Two flash grenades are set off by Border Patrol as pickup trucks carrying a handful of federal agents drive through the crowd and across the bridge.
Protesters who were near the flash grenades, which can cause temporary blindness or deafness, step back to pour water over their faces. A faith leader is covered in debris from the smoke cloud the flash grenades emitted.
U.S. Coast Guard officers form a line opposite the demonstration.
—Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia, Mission Local
At Alameda protests. October 23, 2025 Photo Mariana Garcia
On Alameda, October 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Protesters outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
On Alameda, October 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
6:30 a.m. — ‘We have to say no’
Protesters marching outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
A couple dozen protesters are standing on either side of the one road leading into Coast Guard Island in Alameda, where federal immigration agents are set to arrive today.
Two U.S. Coast Guard officers are conducting traffic. A white shuttle bus has been let through, along with other cars driven by people who work on the island. There is a checkpoint further down the bridge.
An organizer is reminding protesters to keep moving: if they stand still in the crosswalk across the bridge, the organizer says, it will be considered an “obstruction.” It is still dark.
The organizer says law enforcement has instructed cars to keep driving as pedestrians continue walking back and forth. They play “Antipatriarcha,” a Spanish protest song by Ana Tijoux, on a speaker, and try to address the Coast Guard officers, who do not engage.
“ICE is on the island,” repeats a man who has been standing in the center of the intersection of Embarcadero East and Dennison St. for at least the last half hour. “We have to say no.”
The stream of people repeatedly crossing the road grows. One carries a small dog, called Rudy, short for Rutabaga. Rudy was brought to the protest because “he hates ICE,” his owner said. “He loves all his neighbors and he doesn’t want to lose any.”
Faith leaders begin to sing “We Shall Not Be Moved.”
“So much has been done in this administration under the name of God or some twisted version of Christianity,” said Reverend Penny Nixon with the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort. “In the Christian religion it is very clear everyone is our neighbor.”
—Abigail Vân Neely, Mission Local
Protesters marching outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Protesters marching outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Protesters marching outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Alameda protests. October 23, 2025. Photo by Mariana Garcia
Alameda protets. October 23, 2025. Photo by Mariana Garcia
Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
Earlier in the day:
News of federal immigration agents coming to the Bay Area confirmed San Francisco officials’ worst fears. Though attention was recently focused on the possibility of the National Guard being sent in, those troops are heavily proscribed in their actions. Immigration agents are not.
More protests were planned for Thursday in San Francisco: The group Bay Resistance called for a “Hands Off the Bay” rally at 5 p.m. at the Embarcadero.
City officials rushed into action on Wednesday. Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a press conference that “Immigration officials are deployed to use aggressive enforcement tactics that instill fear so people don’t feel safe going about their daily lives.” He signed an executive directive reminding city workers that they cannot, in most cases, participate in immigration enforcement.
Mission residents on Wednesday reacted with a range of emotions to the news: shrugs, fear, and support. Many said they are carrying their papers, just in case.
El Tecolote and Mission Local have put together resource guides for those wondering how to protect themselves.
Mission Local and El Tecolote are teaming up to provide a live blog for up-to-date developments in federal immigration agents’ deployment to the Bay Area.
Stay informed in Spanish: Join El Tecolote’s WhatsApp community for live updates and resources from our bilingual reporting team. Infórmate en español: Únete a la comunidad de WhatsApp de El Tecolote para recibir actualizaciones en vivo y recursos de nuestro equipo bilingüe de reporteros.
6:30 a.m. — Immigrants carry passports ahead of potential crackdown
Northeast Plaza on 16th Street in Mission District, San Francisco. Photo by Anusha Subramanian.
Last night, residents in the Mission District reacted to the planned deployment with emotions ranging from fear to calm.
More are carrying documents to prove citizenship, and at least one thought it was a good idea to send in federal agents. Many were still unaware that the president’s threats to deploy troops had escalated, with agents set to land at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda on Thursday.
Those in the know largely remained calm.
“I’m good. I’m okay. I have papers, I have my license. I work here every day,” said Luis Ledesma who runs a jewelry stall near 22nd Street. He said he usually carries a copy of his documents with him, though he forgot to bring them today.
Others also said they are carrying their documents, believing that having proof of their status was the best way to prevent harm when faced with federal immigration agents. That hasn’t always been the case.
Originally from Nicaragua, Myriai Evarra, 59, and her cousin Chalina Mena, 62, have been carrying their passports and Real IDs with them everywhere for the last year, “just in case.” On Wednesday evening they were engaged in a spirited debate at the 24th Street Mission BART Plaza.
Evarra argued that federal agents should come to San Francisco to “clean up the drugs.” Mena disagreed.
When Mena insisted that immigration agents will not be involved in drug-related enforcement, Evarra insisted that “they will at least do something.”
The federal agents are “not going to fix fentanyl or the drugs. That’s an excuse to go after immigrants. I am angry because they are going to get very violent with people,” said Mena. When asked if she was afraid, she said she was more “uncomfortable” than afraid.
—Anusha Subramanian, Mission Local
6 a.m. — How to prepare for immigration enforcement
Protesters hold signs that say “No deportations” and “Protect our neighbors, keep families together” at an interfaith prayer vigil in front of 630 Sansome immigration court in September 2025. Photo by Mariana Garcia
Consulting with attorneys and immigration advocates, Mission Local has compiled a list of know-your-rights tips for people in San Francisco.
For protesters:
If you plan to participate in a protest, have a plan to contact legal assistance, such as the National Lawyers Guild’s S.F. Bay Area chapter.
You have the right to peacefully assemble and to record law enforcement officers in public spaces.
If stopped by law enforcement, you have the right to remain silent and don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status.
If you are stopped on the streets:
You must stay where you are until an officer tells you that you are free to go.
You don’t have to unlock your phone for any government officer who does not have a warrant.
For immigrants and their families:
When encountering law enforcement, you have the right to remain silent and are advised to refuse to answer questions about your birthplace, immigration status, or how you entered the country.
You have the right to refuse a search, and to prevent immigration enforcement agents from entering your home or workplace without a valid warrant signed by a judge.
You have the right to speak with a lawyer first and ask for interpretation services. Do not sign any document before talking to an attorney.
Keep the red card with you to assert your rights under the U.S. Constitution. These cards can also be used in various ways, including being slipped under your front door or being given directly to immigration enforcement offices to declare your rights to remain silent.
Save the number 415-200-1548 on your phone. This is the San Francisco Rapid Response network’s 24-hour hotline that connects detained immigrants and their families with legal aid and support.
Fill out an emergency preparedness plan in case you are arrested, such as the one offered by the San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network. Make sure both you and your family member have your A-Number, full name, date of birth and country of origin. Make copies of your passport and immigration documents and ensure your family can access them.
Carry evidence that you have been in the United States for longer than two years to reduce the risk of being placed in a deportation process without the chance to argue your case.
—Yujie Zhou, Mission Local
Last night:
About 5,000 people attended an online mobilization call held by Bay Resistance on Wednesday evening to prepare for the arrival of federal agents in the Bay Area, according to organizers.
Speakers from labor groups, attorneys, and nonprofits called for peaceful protests, but also action. They gave attendees advice on to interact with federal agents, document detentions, and to inform a rapid response network if they saw immigration enforcement.
Organizers also urged participants to join an adopt-a-block program to observe areas where immigrant day laborers might congregate. Meanwhile, hundreds of questions flooded in from attendees eager to participate.
Emily Lee of the Bay Rising Alliance, who led the call, said organizers have learned from federal agents’ actions in other cities and that the group is prepared for the coming days.
She called for humor and joy in the coming actions that would start early Thursday morning, with a vigil on the road from the Alameda Coast Guard Island to San Francisco.
“We are not going to give them the spectacle they want,” she said.
—Eleni Balakrishnan, Mission Local