Tensions escalated outside San Francisco’s immigration court on Tuesday as federal officials drove through a group of protesters who were rallying against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The protesters’ intentions were clear: they aimed to block the transfer of a detained man from inside the courthouse to an waiting van outside.
In a shocking turn of events, the van drove through the crowd, dragging one protester who had clung to its hood.
This incident highlights a growing concern amongst many Bay Area residents regarding the increasingly aggressive tactics used by immigration officers in recent years.
Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who set a target of 3,000 arrests per day, ICE has ramped up its activities in immigrant communities, leading to a 123% increase in arrests compared to the same time in 2024, according to the Deportation Data Project led by a UC Berkeley law professor.
The arrests in and around immigration courthouses have prompted outrage from community advocates, who describe such actions as akin to kidnappings, especially as agents often disguise their identities by wearing masks.
In response to the heightened tension, Senator Alex Padilla has introduced legislation aimed at regulating ICE’s practices.
The proposed bill would prohibit agents from wearing masks and mandate that they display their badge numbers, in an effort to increase accountability and transparency.
Numerous families affected by these detainments have shared their struggles in locating and communicating with their detained loved ones through various media outlets, including NPR.
To assist families trying to navigate the complexities of the immigration system, KQED has put together a guide on how to utilize ICE’s online database for locating detainees.
While this guide is not official legal advice, it encourages individuals to consult a lawyer for tailored assistance based on specific circumstances.
For adults, the ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System can be utilized, or individuals can call (866) 347-2423 for assistance.
To successfully locate a person, certain information is required: the individual’s “alien registration number” or A-Number, which can be obtained from immigration documents like a green card or work permit; the full name of the person; their country of birth; and their date of birth.
It’s important to note that it may take several days for a newly detained individual to appear in the ICE database, as pointed out by the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project.
If the person you are searching for does not show up in the database, or if there are concerns regarding their safety or the risk of deportation, advocacy organizations such as Freedom for Immigrants can be contacted for assistance via an online form or by calling 209-757-3733.
KQED’s guide also includes a list of organizations that provide free or low-cost legal support in the Bay Area.
Moreover, with ICE beginning to use facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons to detain individuals related to immigration cases, there is another route for locating detainees.
Individuals can employ the Bureau of Prisons’ search tool to investigate whether a certain person is being held there, as those individuals should also be visible in ICE’s online locator system.
If someone is aware that their loved one was detained near a Bureau of Prisons facility, it may be beneficial to contact that facility directly for further information.
For families searching for minors they suspect may have been detained, they can report their concerns to ICE at 800-203-7001 and also reach out to the Office of Refugee Resettlement via email at [email protected].
Next, reaching out to an ICE field office could provide additional assistance.
The San Francisco field office covers Northern California, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan, with its contact information provided as follows: the office is located at 630 Sansome St., and can be reached by phone at 415-365-8800 or via email at [email protected].
However, caution is advised when contacting the field office—officials from the National Immigrant Law Center (NILC) recommend providing only the necessary details, such as the A-Number and basic identifying information like the name and country of birth.
If communication with the field office proves ineffective, there is an ICE Community Relations Officer in San Francisco accessible at [email protected].
Lastly, individuals who believe their loved one is being held in a detention facility should be aware that ICE lists five such facilities associated with the San Francisco field office, albeit not all of them are located in the Bay Area or even in California.
image source from：kqed
