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 troubling 80-year history of detaining immigrants, dating back to the end of World War II. The building became a detention center after an electrical fire destroyed the previous facility on Angel Island. Leong Bick Ha's tragic suicide in 1948, after being denied asylum, underscores the harsh conditions faced by detainees, including nearly 4,000 Chinese women held there. Historian Brianna Nofil emphasizes that many locals were unaware of the detention practices occurring within the building, which operated as a federal office space.

The use of such spaces for detention has allowed authorities to limit public awareness and scrutiny. In the years following, various immigrants, including European communists and families, were detained under similarly troubling circumstances. The building's legacy highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers and the transparency of immigration enforcement. As protests against current immigration policies intensify, the history of 630 Sansome St. serves as a stark reminder of the past and present challenges faced by immigrants.