President Donald Trump’s deployment of more than 100 federal agents including contingents from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has San Francisco’s leadership preparing for the worst.
In the Mission District, the reactions ranged from calm to scared.
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.
David Contreras, who spends his days either outside the Silverstone Cafe on 24th Street or performing poetry at 16th and Mission streets, said he knew that immigration agents had been deployed, but knowing where his next meal will come from is more pressing than wondering if federal agents will haul him away.
“I’m Latino. I really don’t care. I don’t know the reason why, but border patrol being here really doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I’ll just go home.”
Lincoln, who declined to give his last name, runs a flower stall a stone’s throw away from the Silverstone Cafe on 24th Street. His parents were Mexican immigrants and have been in the flower business for more than 15 years.
“My parents are hardworking people and they don’t feel threatened by things like this. We have talked about it, and deportation doesn’t scare them,” he said. Nevertheless, the thought of his parents being detained by federal immigration agents frightened him.
Lincoln said his mother will never stop taking public transit or going out to buy groceries. When asked if his friends are worried about the ongoing treatment of immigrants, he said, “my friends don’t like to talk about it.”
So what? I carry passport any time I visit Europe or any other country. Why would US be any different?
I don’t understand why people still say that the national guard would clean the streets from drugs. Where do they get that? If that’s why they did (and if it worked) then they should be sent to basically all over the country since the opioid crisis is US wide. Including republican cities! SF is not the only city with rampant substance abuse!
Stop parroting such narrow and simplistic thinking, it helps nobody.
I’ve heard the theory of the national guard cleaning up this opium epidemic. It’s wish full thinking based on the current Salvadoran president who did gang injunctions and cleaned up the streets. But if you watch the news, you will know why no one wants to be deported there, just because they worked a menial job in the US
Even if you are a citizen, it’s a good idea to have proof with you right now.
All non-citizens are required to carry their foreign passport and/or green card at all times anyway. So it is not a bad idea for anyone born overseas to carry their proof of a right to be in the US. More generally walking around without ID can immediately make you look suspect.
“My parents are hardworking people and they don’t feel threatened by things like this.”
Well that’s one way to deal with authoritarianism.
I hope they arrest me so I can sue them for millions. Trump morons.