ICE OUT OF SF Sheriff Petition Delivery

On February 26, the Free SF Coalition delivered a petition—signed by more than 60 organizations and over 1,000 individuals—calling on the San Francisco Sheriff to end any collaboration with ICE. Outside the Sheriff’s Office on the fourth floor of City Hall, coalition members gathered in song, led by Tsuru for Solidarity.

Satsuki Ina, co-founder of Tsuru for Solidarity, opened by drawing parallels between ICE’s deportation system and the Japanese American incarceration during the 1940s—both built on the dehumanization of people based on ethnicity, the separation of families, and the use of detention camps that inflict lasting, intergenerational trauma. Esperanza, from Pangea Legal Services, spoke next, describing the devastating effects of immigration detention on individuals and entire communities. Drawing from Pangea’s work providing legal support to detained clients, she highlighted recent abuses at the California City detention center.

Assistant Sheriff Tanzanika Carter accepted the petition and accompanying letter on behalf of Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, pledging to deliver the coalition’s message. To close the event, Satsuki Ina presented the Assistant Sheriff with a paper crane necklace—a Japanese symbol of healing, transformation, and nonviolence.

Holding the Sheriff accountable is critical. As the elected head of the county jail, Sheriff Miyamoto has broad discretion over whether to cooperate with ICE—choices that directly affect immigrant communities. San Francisco’s Sanctuary City values demand that local resources support our community, not an agency with a record of violence, abuse, and human rights violations. Every transfer to ICE risks subjecting people to indefinite detention, deportation, or even death.

The Free SF Coalition calls on Sheriff Miyamoto to fully uphold San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance, protect due process, and ensure that no one in our city is turned over to ICE.

See photos on the next pages

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