A recent analysis of ICE detention records in San Francisco has revealed a rapid turnover in the detention and deportation of individuals arrested in the area.
Mission Local has tracked 2,057 of the 2,123 people arrested in the San Francisco “Area of Responsibility” by ICE.
By the end of June, 689 remained in detention facilities, while 1,368 individuals in the dataset were either released from custody or deported.
Remarkably, about half of those released had spent fewer than six days in ICE custody, with some 270 detained for over 30 days.
The data indicates that most detainees are processed quickly through the system.
Notable cases like that of Michael Martinez highlight this expediency.
Martinez detailed his experience of being shuffled through the immigration system in less than 24 hours, during which he was fingerprinted and allowed a brief phone call, likely at the San Francisco processing center located at 630 Sansome Street.
Following this initial processing, Martinez found himself in a holding room with several other detained immigrants.
His experience was not unique; as reflected in the data, at least 433 individuals were detained at the same San Francisco location in 2025.
A month later, Edin Reyes experienced a similar path through the 630 Sansome facility.
His arrival was marked by discomfort from tightly bound handcuffs, and just five hours later, he was transferred to the Fresno Holding Center.
Reyes described the pressure he felt from agents who coerced him into signing a deportation authorization paper, claiming, “Look, we’re going to deport you no matter what… It’ll be quicker.”
With no access to legal counsel or the opportunity to make a phone call, Reyes complied and soon fell asleep on the cold floor of his holding cell.
According to the dataset, detainees typically undergo an average of three transfers — commonly from short-term facilities to larger detention centers.
Out of those arrested in the San Francisco area this year who are no longer in ICE custody, the average duration of detention was found to be 16 days.
Jeff Migliozzi, an advocate from Freedom for Immigrants, criticized the expedited removal process established during the Trump administration, stating, “They’re eliminating a crucial stage of due process.”
While Martinez’s detention was brief, Reyes was subjected to multiple transfers.
He was flown from Fresno to the Florence Processing Center in Arizona, where 151 immigrants from San Francisco had been sent.
Only in Arizona did Reyes receive the chance to contact his wife, Angela, after being separated from her for days.
Upon communicating, Angela realized there was nothing she could do to help her husband.
The transfer process, as Migliozzi noted, is becoming increasingly common as immigration detention centers exceed their capacity.
“Wherever they have beds, they’re sending people,” he explained.
On the day Reyes arrived in Louisiana, a friend of his tracked down his vehicle, parked where he was arrested.
Data reveals that at least 1,250 individuals arrested this year in the San Francisco area were deported, primarily to Latin America.
The majority of deportations occurred via the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego, followed by flights from Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana.
This year, 25% of U.S. deportation flights originated from the Alexandria Processing Center, with approximately 10% of locally arrested individuals passing through there.
Reyes was held for two days in Louisiana before being flown to Guatemala on July 18 — just four days after his arrest.
He recalled agents removing handcuffs shortly before landing, possibly to present a more humane appearance to Guatemalan authorities.
Now back in Guatemala, Reyes lives with his sister and father, frequently contacting his wife and children.
Despite hopes of returning to the U.S. through legal channels due to Angela’s citizenship, he recognizes that the immigration process could take years.
Martinez, on the other hand, experienced a drastically shorter ordeal.
After just a few hours in a holding cell, he was transported to San Francisco International Airport.
Less than 12 hours after his arrest, he was on a flight back to El Salvador.
Reflecting on his flight, he expressed a grim sentiment, thinking, “If this plane ends up crashing, that wouldn’t even sound that bad.”
Upon landing in San Salvador, he made his way back to his family home, which he hadn’t seen in 14 years.
In the small town of Nueva Esparta, Martinez faced the stark reality of life in a country plagued by poverty and violence.
He remarked on the immense differences from his previous life in the U.S., highlighting the less favorable living conditions.
Martinez now finds himself attempting to rebuild his life in El Salvador, where the minimum wage is merely $10 a day.
He purchased a used car for $1,850 to aid in mobility but faced challenges in securing stable employment.
Additionally, he is considering launching his own tire shop, utilizing funds raised through a GoFundMe account set up by friends in the U.S.
As of late July, only $180 had been raised, emphasizing the difficulties he faces in starting anew.
Martinez expressed deep sadness over the inability to reunite with friends and family in the U.S., acknowledging that the plight of undocumented immigrants is likely to ensnare others as it did for him.
His journey underscores the broader systemic issues inherent in the current immigration detention and deportation processes, where expedited removals and overcrowded facilities result in hasty actions that strip away the due process afforded to individuals navigating the immigration system.
image source from：missionlocal
