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

The ICE office at 630 Sansome St. in San Francisco has a dark history of detaining immigrants, highlighted by the 1948 suicide of Leong Bick Ha, a Chinese woman held for months while awaiting immigration decisions. Established as an immigration detention center after World War II, the building housed thousands of detainees under conditions described as “prison-like” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Despite its significant role in immigration enforcement, many residents remained unaware of the detentions until incidents like Huang Lai's 1948 ledge protest drew attention. Historian Brianna Nofil emphasizes that such office spaces allow for detentions to occur with minimal public scrutiny.

The building has housed various federal agencies but has been linked to immigration enforcement since its completion in 1944. This legacy continues to raise concerns about the treatment of immigrants, particularly as mass arrests and prolonged detentions increase. Nofil's research highlights the need for greater awareness and scrutiny of these practices. The history of 630 Sansome St. serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges surrounding U.

S. immigration policy.