On Friday morning, San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey visited the immigration court on his e-bike, becoming the second city supervisor this year to engage directly with asylum hearings and detention facilities. This visit follows an earlier tour by Supervisor Jackie Fielder in September.
Dorsey’s two-hour exploration of the facility at 630 Sansome St. involved a commitment to secure funding for pro-bono legal aid services available to asylum-seekers at the court.
He remarked, “The services provided by the non-profits doing immigration work are incredibly worthwhile.” Dorsey particularly highlighted the Bar Association of San Francisco’s “attorney of the day” program, which places pro-bono lawyers in courtrooms to aid asylum-seekers.
Despite the city’s budget deficit, he noted a prevailing political consensus to support these necessary services.
As vice chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Dorsey acknowledged his role in the financial discussions surrounding immigrant support: “In this space there is such a climate of fear that philanthropists and law firms have for supporting immigration services. But we need their backbone, we need their billions.”
The “attorney of the day” initiative serves as a crucial lifeline for asylum-seekers, many of whom appear in court without legal representation. The assistance they receive predominantly stems from the lawyers assigned through this program.
Milli Atkinson, who leads the immigrant defense team at the Bar Association of San Francisco, extended the invitation to Dorsey and Fielder for these tours to better inform city officials about the realities faced by immigrants in their city. The facility at 630 Sansome St. houses ICE’s headquarters in San Francisco and one of two immigration courts in the city.
In mid-September, this location was embroiled in controversy as a lawsuit was filed by the ACLU and local advocacy groups, condemning the “inhumane” conditions within its holding cells. Atkinson expressed the urgent need for elected officials to grasp the fear permeating the immigrant community: “Immigrants are afraid to go to school, to go to work, to court, and their ICE check-ins. City officials should come to court because this is where their constituents are.”
During his visit, Dorsey settled into Judge Joseph Park’s courtroom, where he observed morning hearings. Over recent months, these sessions have often culminated with ICE officers arresting asylum-seekers shortly after their hearings conclude.
For an hour and 15 minutes, Dorsey sat in the back of the courtroom, occasionally glancing at his phone while observing the proceedings.
Afterward, he met privately with an immigrant family in the lobby for about ten minutes. His interaction with them highlighted the emotional weight of the situation. “It’s heartbreaking to see people living in the fear that they’re living in,” he shared with Mission Local. To the family, he offered reassurance, stating, “You have the support of the city and we will do what we can.”
Following this, Dorsey, along with Atkinson, Lariza Dugan-Cuadra of CARECEN SF, and two reporters, ascended to the sixth floor to observe ICE’s holding cells. Unfortunately, their visit did not include a guided tour by any ICE officials, limiting their view to an empty lobby and a waiting area. In this area, detained asylum-seekers communicate with their attorneys using wall-mounted phones.
Back in the courtroom, Dorsey initially witnessed crowded benches filled with anxious asylum-seekers. One Colombian man fidgeted nervously while jotting down an emergency contact on his hand, and others held their partners’ hands in anticipation of their hearings.
Most attendees lacked legal representation, underscoring the critical nature of the attorney of the day program. When language barriers existed, Judge Park summoned third-party interpretation services. However, connectivity issues hindered the efforts, prompting some frustration among those present.
Despite these technical difficulties, the hearing continued, with the judge eventually managing to connect with interpreters for clients speaking Hindi, Russian, and Mam, a Mayan dialect.
No arrests occurred during Dorsey’s visit, and those who completed their hearings exited the courtroom, seemingly relieved. The experience reinforced Dorsey’s commitment to advocating for asylum-seekers and ensuring they receive the support they desperately need.
image source from：missionlocal
