U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers wear gear that may say "Police ICE," "Police HSI," or just "Police." Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump has made several threats to deploy federal agents to San Francisco, igniting rumors and speculation about if or when a large-scale operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could take place in the Bay Area. 

On Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed with El Tecolote that it is providing “facility support” to federal partners at its base in Alameda. In a statement, the Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves, wrote that the federal agency is “focused on ensuring safe and secure operations in support of federal partners,” adding that its role is limited to providing logistical support to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

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Today, the San Francisco Standard has also confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard will be providing facility support to federal agents. An exclusive, yet anonymously sourced, article by the San Francisco Chronicle first reported a federal deployment, though it remains unclear whether the agent’s activities are related to immigration enforcement. 

“The source spoke to The Chronicle on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media,” states the article.

Advocacy groups and community leaders emphasize the need to separate fact from rumor and to respond with preparation, not panic, and encourage people at risk to:

El Tecolote is committed to following this guidance and providing calm, verified reporting that protects and prepares our community. We will continue working to confirm details of any federal operations with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and local officials.

To receive verified updates and know-your-rights resources, join our WhatsApp group, where our team will be posting live updates in Spanish and answering community questions.

Click here to join El Tecolote’s WhatsApp Community.


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