San Francisco OKs $3.5M For Immigrant Defense, 24/7 Raid Hotline Amid ICE ‘Surge’ Threat

San Francisco will add $3.5 million for immigrant legal defense and the 24/7 Rapid Response Network, following days of heightened ICE activity and a withdrawn federal “surge” threat. The funds, distributed via the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, bolster lawyers for deportation proceedings and sustain hotline responses to verify raids and connect detainees to counsel. Officials say services are strained and arrests during court check-ins and home operations have increased. The move adds to roughly $10.5 million already earmarked and aligns with recent Bay Area and philanthropic boosts to immigrant defense capacity.