After Trump Surge Scare, SF Supervisors Race to Fund Immigrant Legal Defense

San Francisco leaders on Tuesday announced legislation that would bolster the city’s immigrant legal defense funds and rapid response networks by $3.5 million.

This move follows the arrival of dozens of federal agents in the Bay Area last week, and President Donald Trump’s continued threats to send federal troops to San Francisco — deployments that were ultimately postponed.

“Last week was very nerve-wracking for the Mission,” said District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder. Fielder, who represents the city’s most significant community of Latino immigrants, noted the immediate impact of the threat: “Teachers reported fewer students coming to school, Latino restaurants and small businesses fewer customers and many day laborers, domestic workers, and legal mobile vendors staying home.”

The $3.5 million supplement, spearheaded by Budget Chair Connie Chan, will support a critical network of legal aid organizations and the city’s Rapid Response Network, which provides immediate assistance and deploys immigration attorneys to courts and detention sites. The funds are expected to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and will likely be distributed to organizations such as the SF Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative and the SF Immigrant Legal and Education Network.

Other Bay Area counties have already increased funds towards immigrant legal aid services following the surge of immigration enforcement activity since Trump took office. Most recently, Alameda County Supervisors approved $3.5 million in emergency funds.

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.