Frontal assault on immigrants attacks San Francisco ‘sanctuary’ status

Aug. 3—Led by the San Francisco Chronicle and Mayor Gavin Newsome, this formerly “friendly” city is making a frontal assault on the very livelihood of immigrant workers, their families and, in particular, their children.

July 29 rally to stop the attacks on San Francisco's sanctuary status.

San Francisco, which has been a “sanctuary city” since 1989 with a long-time commitment to sheltering and providing services for undocumented immigrants, is caving under tremendous pressure to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents regarding the deportation of undocumented youth charged with a crime.

But back-to-back protest rallies by immigrant families, progressive legal and social service agencies, and activists put the city on notice that there will be no turning back the clock—San Francisco will remain a sanctuary city.

On July 29 more than 150 immigrant family members and their supporters, including representatives from more than 27 community organizations, gathered at the steps of City Hall to demand that San Francisco defend the rights of undocumented youth in the criminal justice system. Immigrants, clergy, legal advocates, city officials and others addressed the crowd.

Angela Chan of the Asian Law Caucus led off the rally, stating that “the city’s sanctuary ordinance saves lives.” She criticized the Chronicle and other big business media for “scapegoating immigrants” and leading the attack against this city’s history of supporting them.

Several children and young people also spoke at the rally. “It’s unfair to deport children,” said Alma Pozos, an 8-year-old girl with La Voz Latina. Youth testimony at the rally was supported by chants of “Let the youth be youth” and “No child is illegal.”

Tom Ammiano, a city supervisor and activist in many struggles, challenged the attacks on the sanctuary ordinance and the undocumented communities. “Our sanctuary ordinance is not the cause of crime. It is a means to increase public safety,” Ammiano said. He also challenged U.S. immigration policy when he said, “We won’t give up on our youth. If there was a way for them to be here legally, they wouldn’t be in the trouble they are in.”

Julio Escobar, a chaplain in this city’s juvenile facilities and the director of Comunidad San Dimas, put it this way: “Our young people are in jail because there are no opportunities for them.” He stated that he held Mayor Newsom accountable for the treatment of this city’s youth.

Mayor Newsom recently ended this city’s long-standing practice of not cooperating with ICE by turning over names of undocumented jail detainees. ICE has, over the past year, been responsible for dozens of raids on the city’s restaurants and other workplaces.

San Francisco School Board President Mark Sanchez reminded protesters that the city school district unanimously voted not to allow ICE to conduct raids on public school campuses. He called on Mayor Newsom not to bow to the pressure of the “fear-mongering” media.

On July 30, in a continuing attack on immigrants and the sanctuary ordinance, about a dozen members of the Minutemen Project—the armed vigilante group which has declared war against immigrants trying to enter this country from the south—held their own rally on the steps of City Hall. In response, more than 300 immigrants, advocates and activists countered the small racist rally.

Renee Saucedo, an attorney and activist with La Raza Centro Legal, denounced the Minutemen as “hatemongers” and demanded that San Francisco affirm its sanctuary law. Later, Mayor Newsom, who continues to waffle on the issue, was forced to defend the city’s status as a sanctuary city that offers support and services to all immigrants.

The battle against the deportation of immigrant youth (and adults) who have been charged with a crime is far from over. Mayor Newsom has not rescinded his decision to cooperate with ICE in criminal justice matters concerning undocumented jail detainees. However, the San Francisco immigrant communities—Latin@, Chinese, Filipino and many others—have expressed their determination to continue to fight for sanctuary and human rights for all immigrants, documented and undocumented.