Federal Immigration Operation Expected in San Francisco, Bay Area Activists Prepare Protests

Federal immigration agents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are deployed to the Bay Area, specifically to a Coast Guard base in Alameda, as part of a major immigration enforcement operation ordered by President Donald Trump. The operation is targeting undocumented immigrants, with Homeland Security officials stating the focus is on criminal illegal aliens, and has sparked significant local opposition and protests, including planned demonstrations at the San Francisco Embarcadero Plaza. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and California Governor Gavin Newsom have criticized the federal action, warning it may incite violence and characterize the move as aggressive and politically motivated. Local leaders and immigrant advocates express concern that the crackdown will terrorize immigrant communities, making them fearful to participate in everyday activities and undermining public safety. The possibility of deploying the California National Guard under the Insurrection Act remains uncertain, though Trump has publicly threatened to use it to intensify the crackdown. This escalation follows months of threats from the Trump administration to send troops to San Francisco and other blue cities to address crime and immigration enforcement.