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

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office at 630 Sansome St. in San Francisco has a troubling history of detaining immigrants, with recent events bringing it back into the spotlight. Mass arrests and extended detentions of asylum-seekers have sparked protests and criticism of the facility. Since its establishment in 1944, the building has been linked to immigration enforcement, previously housing the Immigration and Naturalization Services. Leong Bick Ha, a Chinese detainee in 1948, took her life after being denied asylum, exemplifying the severe consequences of the detention practices.

Historian Brianna Nofil argues that the building's inconspicuous location has allowed these practices to continue largely unnoticed. Public awareness was heightened by incidents like Huang Lai's attempt to jump from the building in 1948, which drew thousands of onlookers. The legacy of 630 Sansome St. reflects a broader pattern of detaining individuals out of public view, raising concerns about accountability and transparency. Activists are now pressing for reforms to address the ongoing issues within U.

S. immigration policy.