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 controversial 80-year history of detaining immigrants, drawing renewed scrutiny amid recent mass arrests and violent protests. Originally housing the Immigration and Naturalization Services, the building became a focal point for immigration enforcement following World War II. Leong Bick Ha, a detained Chinese woman, tragically hanged herself in 1948 after being denied asylum, marking a dark chapter in the building's history. Thousands of immigrants, including families and individuals, have passed through its detention facilities with little public awareness.

Historian Brianna Nofil argues that the building's inconspicuous location aided in obscuring these detentions. Public awareness surged after incidents like Huang Lai’s dramatic ledge sit-in in 1948, which drew a crowd of 5,000 onlookers. The building's history reflects broader issues of immigration policy and enforcement in the U. S. Today, the legacy of 630 Sansome St.

continues to evoke discussions about the treatment of immigrants and the need for reform.