Six supervisors spoke outside City Hall on Tuesday alongside immigration organizations to make their case on why the budget expansion is needed amid fiscal constraints during the government shutdown. Although Trump backed off a surge last week, city leaders underscored that federal agents, such as ICE, are still active in the Bay Area. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood highlighted a recent detention of a Pakistani resident in the Tenderloin last week as proof that the community remains vulnerable.
“Though Trump called off the surge for now, ICE has been and will likely continue to be in San Francisco targeting people for arrest, especially in the courts,” Fielder said.
Mahmood stressed the importance of increasing funding to support residents: “from the threats they face today, as well as ensuring that we’re using every legislative toolkit in our disposal to make sure that residents continue to feel safe and the city has their back.”
In addition to the budget increase, Mahmood and Supervisor Chyanne Chen are drafting a request for legislation to create “ICE-free zones” on city-owned properties. Santa Clara County leaders are working on a similar proposal, aimed at prohibiting immigration agents from public facilities like parking garages for their operations.
Supervisor Chan is set to formally present the legislation to the Board of Supervisors, with a vote expected at a later date. According to Supervisor Fielder’s Legislative Aide Ana Herrera, the officials aim to finalize the legislation by the end of the year.