Live updates: Lurie says Trump “calling off” plans for federal deployment in San Francisco
Plans to deploy federal officers in San Francisco have been called off, according to a statement from Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Lurie wrote that he received a phone call from President Donald Trump last night though he waited to release the statement till 9:30 a.m. this morning. What arrangements preceded that call are not known.
“In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning,” he wrote. “My team will continue to monitor the situation closely, and our city remains prepared for any scenario.”
Yesterday, I spoke to San Franciscans about a potential federal deployment in our city. I said then what I have said since taking office, that keeping San Franciscans safe is my top priority.
Late last night, I received a phone call from the President of the United States. I…
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) October 23, 2025
Shortly thereafter, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social saying “we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday.” He attributed this decision to “friends of min who live in the area” naming Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff. His post ended: “Stay tuned!”
Advocates say the change only affects the potential National Guard or military deployment, not ICE or Border Patrol operations. Border Patrol agents already have federal authority to operate in any U.S. city, while National Guard troops generally require legal authorization for domestic use, though those limits have weakened under Trump-appointed judges.
The fate of other Bay Area cities was not mentioned. Mission Local‘s message for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee has not yet been returned.
Protesters march outside Coast Guard Island
10:03 a.m. — Trump says federal agents “will not surge” S.F.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that after a phone call with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie last night, the federal government “will not surge San Francisco on Saturday.” The post follows days of uncertainty and online rumors that Trump was planning a mass raid at a Home Depot within 40 miles of San Francisco this weekend.
Trump wrote that “friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me not to go forward with the surge” because Lurie was making “substantial progress” on crime. He added that business leaders, including Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff, had contacted him to express optimism about the city’s recovery.
Still, organizers and advocates are urging caution, noting that Trump’s statement does not necessarily rule out immigration enforcement or other federal activity in the region. They emphasize that people in surrounding cities should stay alert and prepared in case the situation changes.
— Erika Carlos
9:45 a.m. — Alameda Fire Department heading to Coast Guard Island
At 9:45 a.m. a fire truck and two other Alameda Fire Department vehicles arrived at the intersection of Dennison and Embarcadero. They said they’d arrived to take an injured person to the hospital in an ambulance.
Firefighters say they need to get through to Coast Guard Island to take an injured person in an ambulance to the hospital. Protesters say they believe it might be a tactic for them to disperse the crowd blocking traffic.
– Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia
9:30 a.m. — Lurie says Trump “calling off” plans for federal deployment
Plans to deploy federal troops to San Francisco have been called off, according to a statement from Mayor Daniel Lurie released at 9:30 a.m. this morning.
– Kelly Waldron
9:20 a.m. — In the Mission, some workers stay home, others taking the risk
In the Mission District, many Latino-owned businesses are shuttered. Despite widespread fear, some street vendors continue to sell, and a few stores remain open.
“Since yesterday, there are fewer people out,” said street vendor María V. “They’re very scared.” María said she’s part of several neighborhood groups keeping watch for any potential presence of federal agents. Some workers who spoke to El Tecolote anonymously said they were required to come into work but hoped their employers would soon decide to close.
– Erika Carlos
9 a.m. — Protesters singing
By 9 a.m. the mood has shifted from a stand off in the dark to skipping in the streets — literally, there’s a jump rope. Parents have brought their children. The crowd has thinned out slightly.
Protesters holding signs are peacefully walking across all four streets at the intersection of Embarcadero and Dennison. Some are wearing animal balloon hats. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is playing over a loudspeaker.
– Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia
7:30 a.m. — Crowds block road, protester run over
The scene is less tense, but even more crowded at 7:30 a.m. Faith leaders are singing “We Shall Overcome” while a clown makes balloon animals and a Poodle and Collie are walked through the crowd.
The road, however, is now impassable.
Leaders reorganize the crowd to keep people moving around two intersections.
Observers with the National Lawyers’ Guild are taking notes to send to attorneys, if needed.
A protester was run over on his ankle by a man in a large SUV, who refused to immediately back up.
“I’m still taking it in. I feel okay. I feel really proud of people standing up here against fascism.”
– Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia
7:15 a.m. — ‘Keep walking’
At 7:13, protestors fill the intersection, blocking a white car.
Organizers tell them to keep walking.
An officer gets in the way. Other cars start honking.
Flash bangs go off in the crowd. Border patrol arrives.
USGC officers have formed a line blocking the road. Protestors continue to fill the intersection, but their numbers have grown so much the movement is just a shuffle.
There are a line of cars backed up along Embarcadero East.
– Abigail Vân Neely and Mariana Garcia
6:30 a.m. — ‘We have to say no’
Protesters marching outside of Coast Guard Island in Alameda on Oct. 23, 2025. Photo by Abigail Vân Neely.
A couple dozen protesters are standing on either side of the one road leading into Coast Guard Island in Alameda, where federal immigration agents are set to arrive today.
Two U.S. Coast Guard security forces are conducting traffic. A white shuttle bus has been let through, along with cars of people who work on the island. There is a checkpoint further down the bridge.
An organizer playing “Antipatriarcha,” a Spanish protest song by Ana Tijoux, is reminding protesters to keep moving. It is still dark.
“ICE is on the island,” repeats a man who has been standing in the center of the road for at least the last half hour. “We have to say no.”
An organizer said law enforcement has instructed cars to keep driving as pedestrians continue walking through the one crosswalk that divides the bridge. The two security guards walk back and forth steadily.
An organizer tries to speak to officers, but they do not engage. The stream of people quietly walking back and forth across the intersection grows. One carries a small dog.
Faith leaders begin to sing “we shall not be moved.”
“So much has been done in this administration under the name of god or some twisted version of Christianity,” said Reverend Penny Nixon with the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort. “The Christian religion it is very clear everyone is our neighbor.“
Rudy the dog, short for Rutabaga, was brought to the protest because “he hates ICE,” his owner said. “He loves all his neighbors and he doesn’t want to lose any.”
— Abigail Vân Neely
Earlier in the day …
- News of federal immigration agents coming to the Bay Area confirmed San Francisco officials’ worst fears. Though attention was recently focused on the possibility of the National Guard being sent in, those troops are heavily proscribed in their actions. Immigration agents are not.
- More protests were planned for Thursday in San Francisco: The group Bay Resistance called for a “Hands Off the Bay” rally at 5 p.m. at the Embarcadero.
- City officials rushed into action on Wednesday. Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a press conference that “Immigration officials are deployed to use aggressive enforcement tactics that instill fear so people don’t feel safe going about their daily lives.” He signed an executive directive reminding city workers that they cannot, in most cases, participate in immigration enforcement.
- Mission residents on Wednesday reacted with a range of emotions to the news: shrugs, fear, and support. Many said they are carrying their papers, just in case.
- El Tecolote and Mission Local have put together resource guides for those wondering how to protect themselves.
Mission Local and El Tecolote are teaming up to provide a live blog for up-to-date developments in federal immigration agents’ deployment to the Bay Area.
Stay informed in Spanish: Join El Tecolote’s WhatsApp community for live updates and resources from our bilingual reporting team. Infórmate en español: Únete a la comunidad de WhatsApp de El Tecolote para recibir actualizaciones en vivo y recursos de nuestro equipo bilingüe de reporteros.
6:30 a.m. — Immigrants carry passports ahead of potential crackdown
Northeast Plaza on 16th Street in Mission District, San Francisco. Photo by Anusha Subramanian.
Last night, residents in the Mission District reacted to the planned deployment with emotions ranging from fear to calm.
More are carrying documents to prove citizenship, and at least one thought it was a good idea to send in federal agents. Many were still unaware that the president’s threats to deploy troops had escalated, with agents set to land at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda on Thursday. Those in the know largely remained calm.
“I’m good. I’m okay. I have papers, I have my license. I work here every day,” said Luis Ledesma who runs a jewelry stall near 22nd Street. He said he usually carries a copy of his documents with him, though he forgot to bring them today.
Others also said they are carrying their documents, believing that having proof of their status was the best way to prevent harm when faced with federal immigration agents. That hasn’t always been the case.
Originally from Nicaragua, Myriai Evarra, 59, and her cousin Chalina Mena, 62, have been carrying their passports and Real IDs with them everywhere for the last year, “just in case.” On Wednesday evening they were engaged in a spirited debate at the 24th Street Mission BART Plaza.
Evarra argued that federal agents should come to San Francisco to “clean up the drugs.” Mena disagreed.
When Mena insisted that immigration agents will not be involved in drug-related enforcement, Evarra insisted that “they will at least do something.”
The federal agents are “not going to fix fentanyl or the drugs. That’s an excuse to go after immigrants. I am angry because they are going to get very violent with people,” said Mena. When asked if she was afraid, she said she was more “uncomfortable” than afraid.
…read more here
— Anusha Subramanian
6 a.m. — How to prepare for immigration enforcement
Protesters hold signs that say “No deportations” and “Protect our neighbors, keep families together” at an interfaith prayer vigil in front of 630 Sansome immigration court in September 2025. Photo by Mariana Garcia
Consulting with attorneys and immigration advocates, Mission Local has compiled a list of know-your-rights tips for people in San Francisco.
For protesters:
- If you plan to participate in a protest, have a plan to contact legal assistance, such as the National Lawyers Guild’s S.F. Bay Area Chapter.
- You have the right to peacefully assemble and to record law enforcement officers in public spaces.
- If stopped by law enforcement, you have the right to remain silent and don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status.
If you are stopped on the streets:
- You must stay where you are until an officer tells you that you are free to go.
- You don’t have to unlock your phone for any government officer who does not have a warrant.
For immigrants and their families:
- When encountering law enforcement, you have the right to remain silent and are advised to refuse to answer questions about your birthplace, immigration status, or how you entered the country.
- You have the right to refuse a search, and to prevent immigration enforcement agents from entering your home or workplace without a valid warrant signed by a judge.
- You have the right to speak with a lawyer first and ask for interpretation services. Do not sign any document before talking to an attorney.
- Keep the red card with you to assert your rights under the U.S. Constitution. These cards can also be used in various ways, including being slipped under your front door or being given directly to immigration enforcement offices to declare your rights to remain silent.
- Save the number 415-200-1548 on your phone. This is the San Francisco Rapid Response network’s 24 hour hotline that connects detained immigrants and their families with legal aid and support.
- Fill out an emergency preparedness plan in case you are arrested, such as the one offered by the San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network. Make sure both you and your family member have your 10-digit A-Number, full name, date of birth and country of origin. Make copies of your passport and immigration documents and ensure your family can access them.
- Carry evidence that you have been in the United States for longer than two years to reduce the risk of being placed in a deportation process without the chance to argue your case.
…read more here
— Yujie Zhou
