The Immigrant Rights Commission advises on policies affecting immigrant communities in San Francisco. It provides expert guidance on issues like DACA, travel bans, and census citizenship questions. The commission advocates for immigrant rights and promotes inclusive narratives within the city.

Immigrant Rights Commission

Shaken by Trump, ‘invisible’ Chinese migrants speak up

Yudy lives a typical San Francisco life: walking her dog in Bernal Heights, shopping at the Alemany Farmers Market, trying new restaurants in Chinatown.



But unlike many Chinese immigrants, Yudy can&#8217;t work legally, can&#8217;t apply to schools that require documentation, and can&#8217;t travel back to Hong Kong with the ability to return.



After living in San Francisco for 20 years as an undocumented immigrant, Yudy, who is in her late 30s, feels compelled to speak up about the plight of Chinese undocumented residents under President Donald Trump&#8217;s tightening immigration policies. She wished to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns and deportation risks.



Chinese immigrants, one of the largest ethnic cohorts in San Francisco’s undocumented population, rarely speak openly about their situation, fearing deportation or reprisals in their home country. With Trump’s return to the White House, some are choosing to make themselves even less visible or considering plans to start over again in other countries, such as Canada, where they might face lower risk of being sent back to China.



&#8220;I feel like I belong here,&#8221; Yudy told The Standard in Chinese. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be forced to leave suddenly.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-10-000-chinese">10,000 Chinese</h2>



Yudy easily blends in among San Francisco’s large Chinese community. She arrived from Hong Kong in 2004 on a tourist visa, seeking relief from the intense academic pressure of high school. She was drawn to the United States&#8217; diverse educational opportunities, particularly its community college and state university system.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?w=2500" alt="A market scene shows people walking among stalls with white tents, under a clear blue sky. A person in the foreground holds a shopping bag." class="wp-image-362928" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg 6992w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-15.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Yudy feels compelled to speak up about the plight of Chinese undocumented residents.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person's hand holds an orange over a table filled with oranges and green leaves. They are wearing a light-colored, textured jacket." class="wp-image-362927" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg 6751w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-06.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Yudy shops for fruits for Chinese New Year.</figcaption></figure>



Though her family members in San Francisco are U.S. citizens, Yudy became undocumented after her visa expired. She narrowly missed qualifying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals &#8220;Dreamer&#8221; program, as she was a few months too old when she entered the U.S. Now, there are few ways for her to obtain legal status, such as seeking asylum or marrying a U.S. citizen.



For years, she worked at a jewelry store, a job that paid in cash. &#8220;I had no choice,&#8221; Yudy said. Now she works at a senior center and is enrolled in a nursing program.



According to the Migration Policy Institute, San Francisco&#8217;s &#8220;unauthorized population&#8221; was approximately <a href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2024/12/21/how-sanctuary-cities-can-prepare/">43,000</a> in <a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/county/6075">2019, the latest data available</a>. Those born in China represented the largest share of that group: approximately 10,000 individuals. Mexico and El Salvador were the second and third most common countries of origin.



“Especially Chinese people, they fear their immigration status being revealed,” Yudy said. “But we need to speak up. The more people who speak up, the more others will resonate with similar stories.”



Jose Ng, a San Francisco immigrant rights commissioner and immigrant affairs advocate at the civil rights organization Chinese for Affirmative Action, believes the current numbers are much higher than they were in 2019, given increasing Chinese migration.



&#8220;There are many undocumented Asian and Chinese immigrants living in our communities,&#8221; Ng said in Chinese. &#8220;The situation has become tense, and many people have been worried since Trump took office.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person in a gray shirt and jeans stands on a balcony overlooking a cityscape with tall buildings and a small park below. The sky is overcast." class="wp-image-362929" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg 6000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-14.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;The situation has become tense, and many people have been worried since Trump took office,&#8221; says Jose Ng of Chinese for Affirmative Action.</figcaption></figure>



Chinese nationals are the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chinese-migrants-fastest-growing-group-us-mexico-border-60-minutes-transcript/">fastest-growing group of all migrants</a> entering the U.S., but just a small portion of them come to the Bay Area. Ng visited the southern border twice last year and found that the majority of Chinese migrants prefer New York City, which offers more job opportunities across multiple Chinatowns.



Joe, a Chinese national in his 30s, flew to Japan and then Mexico last year before crossing the border without a visa into San Diego. He wished to remain anonymous.



“The ideological control within China is indeed becoming increasingly strict,” Joe said of the reason he left. “Given some past bad experiences during the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/11/30/photos-san-francisco-chinatown-vigil-mourns-xinjiang-fire-victims/">pandemic lockdown</a> and the direction of future political trends, I feel quite pessimistic.”



Joe has been granted a work permit and is seeking asylum, but the process will likely take years.



After briefly staying at a hostel in the Union Square area, he moved to the East Bay and rented a place to live. Contrary to the perception that undocumented migrants are impoverished, Joe said he was a successful corporate executive in China. Though he holds a degree from a prestigious Chinese university, he has worked in the Bay Area as a fiber technician.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1667" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?w=1667" alt="A person holds two red cards with printed messages about exercising constitutional rights, in English and Chinese, presumably related to legal rights and permissions." class="wp-image-362931" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg 3221w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?resize=1667,2500 1667w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8248765467_chineseundocumented-jk-15.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ng shows bilingual immigrant rights cards distributed to the community.</figcaption></figure>



Although he’s fearful of the new administration, Joe wants to push back on negative stereotypes of undocumented immigrants. Last year, Trump suggested that Chinese immigrant men were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-immigrant-migrants-border-army-05478af9702aa8cc0264bb52c8ba7bd9">building an “army” in the U.S</a>., a claim that was repeated in conservative media.



&#8220;Most people like us are seeking freedom by coming to America,&#8221; Joe said in Chinese. &#8220;These people are hardworking and kindhearted.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-community">Invisible community</h2>



H. H., a Chinese Malaysian immigrant advocate, said many Asian migrants fear retaliation against themselves or family members in their home countries. H. H., 31, came to the U.S. as a student and sought asylum due to his sexual orientation; his home country, Malaysia, has harsh laws against LGBTQ people.



Now a green card holder after a five-year wait, H. H. said asylum seekers who come from countries with oppressive regimes — those that crack down on citizens based on political persuasion, sexual orientation, or other factors —&nbsp;choose to migrate to places where they can be safe. Exposure could lead to safety risks, he said.



&#8220;When you are applying for asylum, there is no guarantee that your claim will be successful,&#8221; H. H. said. &#8220;If you had to go back to your home country, there are real safety concerns. Asylum seekers often have family members who are still living back home.&#8221;



H. H. dismissed Trump&#8217;s “lie” about Chinese immigrant men, noting that such rhetoric stokes fears about anyone who fits that profile.



San Francisco has been a sanctuary city since 1989, and the Board of Supervisors recently <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/28/san-francisco-donald-trump-immigration-sanctuary-city-ice/">reaffirmed that status</a>. City Attorney David Chiu said in a statement that immigration enforcement is not the responsibility of local government and urged residents not to fear interacting with local law enforcement or city agencies.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a checkered suit speaks at a podium with people and a seal behind him." class="wp-image-263493" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20242805-visionzeropresser-191.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">City Attorney David Chiu, an outspoken immigrant rights advocate, urges residents not to fear interacting with local law enforcement or city agencies.</figcaption></figure>



Chiu asserted that while the city complies with federal law, he &#8220;will stand up for our laws, and stand with the community.&#8221;



Still, Trump has led many immigrants in San Francisco to reconsider their plans and even prepare for the worst:&nbsp;leaving the country.&nbsp;



&#8220;After 20 years here, I need to plan my future, find a place to work, buy a house,” Yudy said, though stressing that she wants to stay with her family in the U.S. “Without status, you can&#8217;t even buy insurance.&#8221;



As she finishes nursing school, Yudy is thinking about moving to Canada, where she thinks she may be welcomed as an immigrant qualified to work in healthcare.&nbsp;



Joe, who came here just a year ago, once had ambitious plans. For now, he has to remain invisible.



He once dreamed of opening a small business and building an outstanding career in the U.S. that might qualify him for legal status. Now, he prefers to keep his head down.



&#8220;I am pausing my business plans now. I am afraid there may be big changes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Let’s quietly wait and see first.&#8221;



Editor’s note: We&#8217;ve updated the story to reflect an interviewee&#8217;s concerns about being targeted over his immigration status.

Immigrants fear deportation under Trump: ‘We have to prepare’

Donald Trump, who kicked off his first presidential campaign by calling Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists, is set to take office once again.&nbsp;



This time around, he has promised to round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants — many of whom live in California. Here in San Francisco, students, teachers, restaurant workers, laborers, and cleaners without paperwork are already worried. Even those who have recently become citizens or are documented legal aliens shared concerns about Trump’s plans, as did lawyers and activists.



A public school teacher in the Excelsior neighborhood, who asked to remain anonymous, said her students are reeling from Trump’s victory.



“Today’s been so hard with the kids,” she said via text Wednesday. “So many of my students in tears thinking they’re going to get deported.”



The teacher said many of her students are new to the United States.



“They already have so much pressure on them,” she said. “Learning the language, fitting in at a new school, learning a new culture/learning about their new city.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg" alt="An elderly couple stands together in a sunny urban setting. The woman holds a cane, and the man wears a hat. A red bus and pedestrians are in the background." class="wp-image-330362" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg 5462w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=2500,2500 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106-immigrationfears_aar_2_82a846-edited.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Julia Ávila and her husband, Jose Ávila, both Latin American immigrants who became American citizens long ago, are worried about Trump&#8217;s rhetoric around immigration.</figcaption></figure>



A 16-year-old girl who attends Mission High School said Wednesday that Trump’s return to the White House worries her greatly — not for her own sake, but for her parents’.&nbsp;



She was born in the city and has lived here her whole life, but her parents immigrated from Mexico and have been in the process of getting their green cards for the last six years. She’s worried that the process will now be stalled or stopped entirely. The Standard is not naming the girl to protect her identity.



“It’s confusing because Trump is trying to have a whole thing about ‘sending them back,’” she said. “We’ve been trying very hard to get their papers. I’m worried it’ll be revoked, I’m worried especially for those people who don’t even have papers.”



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Other undocumented workers who spoke to The Standard declined to provide their full name for fear of being deported or jeopardizing their citizenship applications.



Gabriel, who has lived without papers in San Francisco for the last 20 years, said he doesn&#8217;t trust Trump to be a good leader.



&#8220;If you betray your own government, what can we expect? To be betrayed,&#8221; he said of Trump in Spanish.



Gabriel, who said he&#8217;s always held two (and sometimes three) jobs —&nbsp; in restaurants, construction, and mall kiosks — said he&#8217;s contributed to this country the entire time he&#8217;s lived here: he&#8217;s paid taxes, he&#8217;s raised two kids, both of whom have gone to college and are &#8220;responsible citizens.&#8221;&nbsp;



And yet time and time again, he&#8217;s felt the government turn its back on immigrants; not just Republicans but also Democrats, he said, speaking specifically about the three million people deported under former President Barack Obama.&nbsp;



&#8220;They count on us to contribute, but never give us any benefit,&#8221; he said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1685" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman crouches with two children in winter clothing, while a hand holds a poster showing a mother carrying a child with a globe in the background." class="wp-image-330267" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?resize=2500,1685 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?resize=1536,1035 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18278842599356.jpg?resize=2048,1380 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In this March 12, 2018, file photo, Angela Henriquez hugs her children at a news conference announcing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to end a program that lets immigrants live and work legally in the United States.</figcaption></figure>



A 20-year-old restaurant worker in the Mission who arrived undocumented from Guatemala around eight months ago said he hasn&#8217;t really been paying attention to the elections.



&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard he says he&#8217;s going to kick people out. If it&#8217;s true, we can&#8217;t do anything about it because we&#8217;re not from this country,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I hope the things he&#8217;s said aren&#8217;t true — maybe he just wants to instill fear.&#8221;



But other undocumented immigrants weren’t bothered by Trump’s plan for mass deportations. Some even supported it.



“I’m an immigrant, and I love Trump,” said Alex, a day laborer who has been undocumented since he came to the U.S. from Nicaragua 28 years ago.



Alex, who works as a mover for U-Haul, said he’s excited by Trump’s promise to more thoroughly vet immigrants into the U.S. The 43-year-old said he supports deportations if they are focused on undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.&nbsp;



“That’s my fantasy,” Alex said.



He’s supportive of making it harder to enter the country because he believes that when undocumented immigrants commit serious crimes, it makes Americans think they’re all criminals.&nbsp;



Trump has repeatedly espoused anti-immigrant vitriol, both during his presidential campaigns and his tenure as president. He has called the acquittal of Jose Inez Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant who was accused of fatally shooting San Francisco woman Kate Steinle in 2015, “<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42190455">disgraceful</a>.” A jury found Garcia Zarate <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/man-acquitted-kate-steinle-murder-deported-18696700.php">not guilty</a> of murder and manslaughter in 2017, but he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun. He was <a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ero-phoenix-removes-mexican-national-extensive-criminal-history-7th-time">deported</a> in March.



But Alex conceded that he doesn’t think Trump will actually succeed at launching “the largest deportation operation in American history,” as he proclaims on his official “Agenda 47” website. Alex thinks four years is not enough time to carry out Trump’s plan. And no matter what the U.S. does, illegal immigration is inevitable, he said.



“They put the wall, we’ll break it,” Alex said. “If you gotta feed your kid, you don’t give a fuck.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1802" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?w=2500" alt="Protesters hold signs reading &quot;Solidarity!&quot; and a banner saying &quot;Defend Temporary Protected Status&quot; in bold text, amidst a backdrop of a building." class="wp-image-330269" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg 4388w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?resize=300,216 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?resize=768,553 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?resize=2500,1802 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?resize=1536,1107 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap18277063790011.jpg?resize=2048,1476 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supporters of temporary protected status immigrants hold signs and cheer at a rally in 2018.</figcaption></figure>



Fernando Pineda, a 52-year-old undocumented immigrant from El Salvador who also works as a mover for U-Haul, said he’s ambivalent about Trump’s win because he feels protected by San Francisco’s status as a sanctuary city, meaning it does not coordinate with ICE to deport undocumented immigrants.



“In San Francisco, if you have no documents, it’s OK,” Pineda said, adding that he’s never had an encounter with ICE agents since coming to the city 20 years ago.



Immigration lawyers are worried too. Attorney Andrei Romanenko recalled that during Trump’s first presidency, he eliminated prosecutors’ discretion to close low-priority cases in immigration court. He also appointed immigration judges with backgrounds in prosecution, increasing the number of judges “who were biased and anti-immigrants,” Romanenko said.



He added that Trump stripped the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of its authority to waive interviews with people applying to be citizens, leading to a yearlong backlog of cases.



Prosecutorial discretion and interview waivers returned under Biden, but Trump could remove them once again when he takes office.



“These are just a few issues that I&#8217;ve experienced that are likely to come back in his second presidency,” Romanenko, who was once on the Immigrant Rights Commission in San Francisco, said.



As people queued up at La Raza Community Resource Center in the Mission for Wednesday&#8217;s food bank, program coordinator Carmen noticed the line was noticeably shorter. She attributed it to the election.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt speaks at a podium labeled &quot;American Rescue Plan.&quot; He gestures with his hand on his chest, standing before a bright yellow backdrop." class="wp-image-330366" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg 6240w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ap21224726789648.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gabriel Medina, the Executive Director of La Raza Community Resource Center in San Francisco in 2021.</figcaption></figure>



&#8220;People are scared,&#8221; she said in Spanish. &#8220;Six volunteers didn&#8217;t show up. Many fewer people have come to pick up food today. Some don&#8217;t understand that Trump doesn&#8217;t transition to president until January.&#8221;



Carmen said she has warned volunteers and people seeking services not to panic.



&#8220;Things don&#8217;t happen overnight,” she said. “Maybe in the end, things will be different than what we think, but people still have this fear.&#8221;



Gabriel Medina, executive director of La Raza Community Resource Center in the Mission District, said there have already been meetings among advocates in San Francisco about how to prepare for a Trump presidency. His organization is planning to have a staff meeting Thursday to get employees ready.



&#8220;Some [service seekers] have children who were born in the country,” Medina said “They&#8217;re worried about being separated from their families.&#8221;



Medina said each undocumented family should have a contact sheet ready in case they&#8217;re detained, and residents should be careful about sharing their location. He added that there&#8217;s a response network for ICE sightings in the city.



&#8220;I expect there to be an increase in reported ICE sightings,&#8221; Medina said. &#8220;I hope that&#8217;s not the case, but we have to prepare in case it is.&#8221;

Chesa Boudin ally challenges District Attorney Brooke Jenkins

A former San Francisco prosecutor who was fired by District Attorney Brooke Jenkins after she took office in 2022 is running to replace her this November.



Ryan Khojasteh, 30, who currently works part-time at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, will be the first major opponent to challenge Jenkins.



A progressive attorney who graduated from UC Law (formerly UC Hastings) in 2018, Khojasteh worked as a volunteer attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office in 2019 before being hired by the District Attorney’s Office under Chesa Boudin in 2020. He worked as an assistant district attorney at both the juvenile unit and general felony unit.



Boudin was recalled in June 2022, and Jenkins, a leader of the recall campaign, was appointed by Mayor London Breed to replace Boudin. Jenkins <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/07/15/firings-rumored-in-first-major-staffing-shakeup-by-da-brooke-jenkins/">fired more than a dozen staffers in July</a> of that year, including Khojasteh.



Khojasteh declined to be interviewed for this story as he is expected to announce his candidacy at City Hall on Friday at noon.



Citing “a better way for safety” in a press advisory, Khojasteh is an advocate of progressive criminal justice policies, in contrast with Jenkins’ more traditional, tough-on-crime approach. He’s supported by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, who was San Francisco’s district attorney, former state Sen. Mark Leno and multiple current elected education officials.



Despite his relatively young age, Khojasteh is not new to San Francisco politics.



He ran for Congress against Rep. Nancy Pelosi in 2018, <a href="https://sfelections.sfgov.org/june-5-2018-election-results-summary">receiving about 5%</a> of votes in the primary. He also served on the city’s Immigrant Rights Commission for almost six years.



According to the <a href="https://www.sf.gov/reports/november-2024/candidates-november-5-2024-consolidated-general-election#district-attorney">Department of Elections</a>, Jenkins is the only candidate who has formally declared her intention to run for district attorney.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman in a pink jacket speaks into a microphone at a table with a backdrop displaying &quot;Hope Stability Renewal&quot; logos." class="wp-image-188367" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TenderloinSafety080323_09.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">District Attorney Brooke Jenkins speaks during a town hall in San Francisco in August.</figcaption></figure>



In a statement, Jenkins’ campaign spokesperson, Elizabeth Power, defended the firing as necessary to “reverse the damage” caused by Boudin. She touted Jenkins&#8217; effort to stabilize the office by hiring 40 new prosecutors, which she said is “making San Francisco safer” and has led to an increase in convictions for violent crime.



“The district attorney looks forward to putting her record up against any candidate who wants to revert back to the failed policies,” the statement said, “that clearly were not working for this city.”

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

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Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

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Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

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Department of Elections

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War Memorial

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General City Responsibilities

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Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Jane Natoli

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

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Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

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Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Jeffrey Morris

Kristy Nelson

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

S. Elizabeth Miller

John Lee

Mervin Conlan

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

John Su

James Reynolds

Shawn Ridgell

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee

The Behavioral Health Commission advises on mental health policy implementation and quality service delivery. It reviews and advocates for effective mental health services, ensuring policies meet community needs. It educates stakeholders to integrate mental health considerations into broader health strategies.

Behavioral Health Commission

The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises on making bicycling safer and more accessible in San Francisco. It provides recommendations to city agencies to address traffic violence and climate change. The committee advocates for cyclists and addresses biking-related complaints.

Bicycle Advisory Committee

The Board of Appeals provides final review for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient and fair permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The Board exercises authority to make binding decisions on appeals.

Jefferson Robert Eppler

John Trasviña

Jose Lopez

Rick Swig

Board of Appeals Commissioner 5

Board of Appeals conducts final reviews of City permitting decisions through an impartial panel. It ensures an efficient and fair permit issuance process. The department operates under rules established by the City Charter of 1932.