In a dramatic series of events that unfolded over just a few days, President Donald Trump abruptly called off a planned surge of federal immigration enforcement agents in San Francisco, following intense backlash, legal threats from state officials, and a wave of public protests. The decision, confirmed by both President Trump and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, capped off a tense period that left Bay Area residents, city leaders, and immigrant communities on edge, highlighting deep divisions over federal intervention in local affairs and the future direction of immigration policy in the United States.
The saga began on October 22, 2025, when President Trump ordered approximately 100 federal agents to a military base in the East Bay, preparing for a high-profile and highly controversial immigration enforcement operation in San Francisco. News of the impending action quickly spread, prompting widespread anxiety among the region's robust immigrant population—roughly 30% of the Bay Area’s residents, with an estimated 457,000 lacking legal status, according to the Bay Area Equity Atlas and the Migration Policy Institute.
Local news outlets reported that federal agents were expected to target locations such as Home Depot stores, where undocumented workers often gather for day labor. The prospect of raids sent shockwaves through the community, and by the early hours of October 23, protesters had begun to mobilize. A pre-dawn demonstration blocked the entrance to Coast Guard Island in Alameda, where the agents were expected to arrive. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that federal agents deployed a flash-bang grenade to disperse the crowd, underscoring the heightened tensions on the ground.
Protests quickly spread across the Bay Area, with gatherings planned at San Jose City Hall, San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza, and other prominent locations. The demonstrations reflected widespread opposition to President Trump’s immigration policies and fears that a federal crackdown would disrupt lives, sow division, and undermine the city’s recovery efforts.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who had only recently taken office, found himself at the forefront of the crisis. On the night of October 22, Mayor Lurie received a phone call from President Trump. In a statement released the next day and reported by KRON, Lurie recounted, “Late last night, I received a phone call from the President of the United States. I told him the same thing I told our residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office. We have work to do, and we would welcome continued partnerships with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Attorney to get drugs and drug dealers off our streets, but having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery.”
Lurie’s message was clear: while the city remained committed to public safety and tackling crime, a federal military-style intervention was not the answer. He emphasized, “In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco.” The following morning, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the president’s decision in a separate conversation with the mayor.
President Trump, for his part, took to social media to explain his reversal. Citing calls from prominent Bay Area tech executives—including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff—Trump wrote, “Great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called saying that the future of San Francisco is great. They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday.” Trump added that he had spoken with Mayor Lurie, who “asked very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around.” Trump continued, “I told him, ‘It’s an easier process if we do it, faster, stronger, and safer but, let’s see how you do?'”
While the cancellation brought relief to many, the episode left lingering questions about the boundaries of federal power and the relationship between Washington and America’s most progressive cities. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta were quick to condemn the original plan, vowing to sue the federal government to block any deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco. Newsom declared, “We’re a nation of laws and accountability—not a nation that turns a blind eye to abuse of power. We don’t bow to kings, and we’re standing up to this wannabe tyrant.” He argued that there was “no emergency. No rebellion. No invasion. Not even unrest,” and characterized the proposed deployment as an “outrageous, indefensible, and most importantly illegal” attempt at voter suppression, especially as Californians prepared to vote on Proposition 50, a measure to redraw congressional maps.
Attorney General Bonta echoed these concerns, stating, “Trump has made no secret of his intentions: To use our National Guard as his own Royal Army and our cities as a training ground for the military. This is outrageous, indefensible, and most importantly illegal.” The city’s legal team, led by City Attorney David Chiu, was prepared to take legal action if federal forces arrived, underscoring the city’s commitment to protecting its residents and upholding local autonomy.
San Francisco, along with Oakland and several other Bay Area cities, is a sanctuary city—a status that limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. This policy has long been a point of contention with federal authorities, but city leaders have remained steadfast. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins even vowed to prosecute federal agents who used excessive force or violated local laws during any enforcement actions.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi praised Mayor Lurie’s handling of the crisis, saying, “Mayor Daniel Lurie has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of San Franciscans. In his handling of a potential federal deployment in our city that resulted in the President calling off the operation, Mayor Lurie has underscored that public safety must be driven by local priorities, respectful of our values and communities.”
Although the immediate threat of a federal surge has passed, the events of October 2025 have left a lasting mark on the city. For many, the episode was a reminder of both the city’s vulnerabilities and its resilience. As Mayor Lurie put it, “Our city leaders have been united behind the goal of public safety. And our values have been on full display—this is the best of our city.”
As San Francisco continues to recover and redefine itself in the face of national scrutiny, the city’s response to the federal challenge has underscored the importance of local leadership, community solidarity, and a steadfast commitment to the values that have long defined the Bay Area.
