DENOUNCING THE RAIDS CONDUCTED BY THE IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) IN SAN FRANCISCO
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco values the dignity of all its residents, regardless of
immigration status, and will make every affirmative effort to ensure that all San Franciscans live in
safety and free from discrimination; and
WHEREAS, in 1989, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 375-89, declaring San Francisco
to be a City and County of Refuge ; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 515-99 declaring the City an
"I.N.S. Raid-Free Zone," and recognizing that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (I.N.S.) often
violates civil and human rights during its raids, arrests and detentions, and that such I.N.S. raids
threaten the public safety of all San Franciscans (see Board of Supervisors Resolution 020921); and
WHEREAS, in 2008, Mayor Gavin Newsom launched a public awareness campaign to promote San
Francisco's "sanctuary" policy for undocumented residents, and assure all residents that accessing city
services does not make an individual vulnerable to federal immigration authorities, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 211-97, codified as Article
XXI, Chapter 5 of the San Francisco Administrative Code (Section 5.201) creating the San Francisco
Immigrant Rights Commission to improve, enhance and preserve the quality of life and civic
participation of all immigrants in the City and County of San Francisco . , and
WHEREAS, on May 2, 2008, the ICE agents raided eleven (11) El Balazo restaurants in San Francisco
and other cities in the Bay area arresting 63 illegal immigrants, and
WHEREAS, these raids and deportations divide the immigrant families, traumatize the immigrant
Communities and are a disaster for our economy, and
WHEREAS, the ICE has targeted enforcement efforts against immigrants in their workplaces through
raids, the Social Security No-Match program, the E-Verify program; and
RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission strongly denounces the raids
conducted by the ICE agents at the various locations of the El Balazo restaurants in San Francisco and
other cities; and, be it
RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission supports the continued adherence
of the City Departments to the principles and requirements set forth in Ordinance No. 375-89 declaring
San Francisco to be a City and County of Refuge ; and, be it
RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission urges the San
Francisco Police Commission and the Chief of Police to issue a written directive to all local law
enforcement officials reminding them of the requirements of Chapter 12H of the San Francisco
Administrative Code; and, be it
RESOLVED, that San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission urges the Mayor and the
Board of Supervisors to request and urge ICE. to cease conducting raids, arrests and detentions
within the City; and, be it
RESOLVED, that the san Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission urges Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi to oppose the targeting of immigrants in her district; and
RESOLVED, that the Immigrant Rights Commission urges Congress to pass legislation promoting
legalization of undocumented residents and repealing employer sanctions as expeditiously as possible
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission urges the Mayor and
Board of Supervisors to immediately convene a meeting with the San Francisco District Director
Of Immigration & Customs Enforcement and representatives from the San Francisco Human
Rights Commission, and San Francisco 's community-based immigrant organizations to address the
concerns contained in this resolution.
