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. has a history of detaining immigrants that dates back to the late 1940s. Leong Bick Ha's tragic suicide in 1948 serves as a poignant reminder of the distress faced by detainees, who often endured lengthy and stressful processes. The building, originally housing the Immigration and Naturalization Services, has seen thousands of immigrants pass through its doors, including families and political dissidents, in conditions described as prison-like. Historian Brianna Nofil emphasizes that many locals are unaware of the detention practices occurring within the unassuming building.

Public awareness increased in 1948 when Huang Lai's suicide attempt drew significant attention, revealing the building's true purpose. As mass immigrant arrests and protests continue, scrutiny of ICE's practices has intensified. The facility's history illustrates the broader implications of immigration policy and the human cost associated with enforcement actions. The ongoing detention of asylum-seekers raises critical questions about the treatment of immigrants in the U. S.