ICE’s action comes as people inside and outside detention protest worsening conditions at California facilities FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2024PRESS CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org   **PRESS RELEASE** Detained Individuals, Immigrant Advocates Condemn ICE Ending Free Legal Phone Calls ProgramICE’s action comes as...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2023MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie.Seyfer@sfgov.org | (415) 851-2212  **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender’s Office Condemns Traumatic Federal Arrests of Young Mothers Attending Hearings at Hall of Justice District Attorney’s referral of cases to federal agents deters people from showing up to court, skirts Sanctuary policy, opens the door...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2022 MEDIA CONTACTS:  San Francisco Public Defender’s Office: Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org, 628-249-7946  ACLU NorCal: press@aclunc.org, 415-621-2493  ACLU SoCal: communications@aclusocal.org, 626-755-4129  Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the SF Bay Area: slew@lccrsf.org, 415-272-8022 **PRESS RELEASE** Groundbreaking COVID-19 Settlement to Yield Protections for Immigrants Detained by ICE, Limit Re-Detention for People Released SAN FRANCISCO...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2021 CONTACT:  SF Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org – (628)249-7946 Free The Yuba 11 Campaign – Edwin@ccijustice.org – (415) 933-4922 **PRESS RELEASE** Last Two Remaining Immigrants Detained by ICE in Yuba County Jail Seek Release  Defense attorneys file writs of habeas corpus in Federal Court, argue their detention is unlawful ...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org – (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** San Francisco Public Defender calls for release of Ricardo Vasquez Cruz, one of only 3 remaining ICE detainees at Yuba County Jail amidst COVID outbreak SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Public Defender is urgently calling for ICE...Read More

DATE: February 18, 2021 MEDIA CONTACTS: SF Public Defender’s Office, 628.249-7946, Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org ACLU SoCal Communications & Media Advocacy: communications@aclusocal.org, 626-755-4129 Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Sam Lew, slew@lccrsf.org, 415-272-8022 Ninth Circuit Affirms Likely Constitutional Violation in Detention of Immigrants During Pandemic Rules ICE Neglected Immigrants; Upholds Order Establishing Process for Considering Release During Pandemic SAN...Read More

Bob Egelko reported in the San Francisco Chronicle on the latest development in an ongoing joint class action lawsuit against I.C.E. regarding its response to the COVID-19 pandemic at two California immigrant detention facilities. On December 3, 2020, Federal Judge Vincent Chhabria called the conduct of officials at I.C.E. and GEO Group – the private...Read More

December 3, 2020 MEDIA CONTACTS: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org, (628)249-7946 ACLU SoCal Communications & Media Advocacy, communications@aclusocal.org, 626-755-4129  Court Slams ICE for Handling of COVID at Mesa Verde Blistering Order Cites Lies and ‘Deliberate Indifference’ to the Safety of Detainees SAN FRANCISCO — In a blistering federal court decision handed down today on the treatment of people...Read More

Lisa Fernandez of KTVU FOX 2 reported: California ICE detention center officials ignored COVID-19 protocols: attorneys after attorneys in the ongoing Zepeda-Rivas class action lawsuit against ICE discovered new documents showing how staff at the Mesa Verde detention center in Bakersfield, CA – operated by the private prison corporation GEO Group – failed to follow...Read More

November 11, 2020 PRESS CONTACT: Valerie Ibarra – SF Public Defender’s Office – (628)249-7946 New Documents Reveal ICE and Private Prison Contractor Exacerbates a COVID Outbreak at Immigration Detention Center Hid Risks to Immigrants In Grave Danger Due to COVID Pandemic, Misled Court SAN FRANCISCO – Last night, detained immigrants held at the Mesa Verde ICE...Read More