Interfaith Activists Block Entrances to San Francisco ICE Office, Risking Arrest | KQED

""The harm that's being committed in these buildings when people are being taken from their families and then put into concentration camps far outweighs any concerns to any harm that may come from standing here today in solidarity with people who are just simply trying to live their lives in this country in freedom and dignity," said Rabbi Cat Zavis. "Our faith traditions and our spiritual traditions call us to disrupt injustice and stand with them.""

"But the Rev. Deborah Lee, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity co-director, said escalating violence has inspired them to take further action. "At some point, we as people of faith are being called to not just love our neighbor, but we have to disrupt injustice that's happening day after day after day," she told KQED. "We cannot sit idly by and see people being marched into the slaughter of immigration detention across our country.""

"Lee said over the last six months, about 120 people have been detained while reporting to mandatory asylum case check-in appointments and hearings in the city - a tactic that was unprecedented prior to the second Trump administration. The Department of Justice has also fired 12 of 21 immigration court judges who preside over the Bay Area's court since the beginning of 2025, raising alarms that judges who might not be willing to rule in line with the administration's immigration agenda could face consequences."

Department of Homeland Security officials ordered faith leaders to disperse just after 7 a.m., warning of potential federal arrests. Interfaith advocates said they planned to remain despite possible consequences and described family separations and detention as grievous harm. Interfaith leaders have held multiple weekly vigils since summer outside the office and an immigration court facility a half-mile away while generally avoiding interference with ICE. Escalating violence prompted faith leaders to take further action. Over six months, about 120 people were detained during mandatory asylum check-ins. The Department of Justice has fired 12 of 21 Bay Area immigration court judges since early 2025.

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