ICE HQ in S.F.s Financial District has an 80-year history of detaining immigrants

The ICE office at 630 Sansome St. in San Francisco has a contentious 80-year history of detaining immigrants, with its building linked to numerous tragic events. The case of Leong Bick Ha, who died by suicide in 1948 after enduring months of detention, exemplifies the harsh realities faced by detainees. Between 1946 and 1948, nearly 4,000 Chinese women were held there under dire conditions, often without communication with family. Historian Brianna Nofil notes that many San Franciscans were unaware of the detentions occurring within the office building.

The building's unassuming nature masked the scale of immigration enforcement, allowing practices to go largely unchecked. A notable incident in 1948, when a detainee crawled onto a ledge, brought public attention to the facility. Nofil argues that 630 Sansome St. marks the beginning of using office spaces for detention to avoid public scrutiny. The article calls for increased awareness regarding the ongoing practices of immigration enforcement in urban environments.