ICE Accused of Detaining Immigrants Outside San Francisco Court: Protest Erupts

San Francisco Immigration Court Protest: ICE Accused of Unfair Detentions San Francisco, May 29, 2025 – A protest erupted outside the San Francisco Immigration Court on Wednesday, May 28, following reports that ICE agents detained several individuals who had appeared for their court hearings. Dozens of demonstrators gathered to express their outrage and support for those detained. The protest, captured on video by NBC Bay Area, showed protestors holding signs with slogans such as "Hands Off Immigrants" and "Abolish ICE." "They want to instill fear so that people don't show up to their court hearings," explained Luis Angel Reyes Savalza, San Francisco Deputy Public Defender, Immigration Unit, in an interview at the rally. "Which then means they will be ordered removed in their absence." The demonstration also provided an impromptu legal clinic, offering assistance to immigrants navigating the court system. Milli Atkinson of the San Francisco Bar Association expressed deep concern, stating, "It's very concerning. It's an attack on due process; it's an attack on the Constitution; it's an attack on the rule of law." NBC Bay Area reporters witnessed the detentions and followed the four men who were taken into custody. They were later transported to a private detention center in McFarland, California, hundreds of miles away, despite having attended their court hearings. The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not offer any new information beyond a prepared statement. The incident raises serious questions about fairness and due process within the immigration system.