Video of masked ICE arrest in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood sparks outrage
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A video showing masked federal immigration agents detaining a 51-year-old man in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood has ignited protests at City Hall and renewed debate over immigration enforcement tactics in the city.
The Monday morning arrest of Milton Ramos-Rodriguez was captured on video, which shows agents confronting him on a San Francisco street. In the footage, Ramos-Rodriguez questions the identities of the officers, at one point telling them, "You can't touch me. Look at how you are dressed," before he is handcuffed and taken away. One plainclothes agent appears to be carrying a handgun. The arrest quickly became a rallying point for immigrant rights advocates and city leaders.
On Tuesday, members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gathered outside City Hall to announce plans to move swiftly on legislation that would provide additional funding for legal immigration services.
"We will fund our immigrant community," Supervisor Connie Chan said at the rally. "We will make sure they are protected not only in San Francisco and California, but across the nation."
MORE: As ICE detentions ramp up, SF educators are now accompanying families to immigration hearings
Among those attending was Ramos-Rodriguez's mother, who said her son has lived in the United States since he was 6 years old.
Fighting back tears, she said she fears he could be killed if deported to El Salvador.
"I'm scared. If he goes there, I know they will kill him there," she said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement defended the arrest, saying Ramos-Rodriguez is not a U.S. citizen, was previously deported to El Salvador and has a voluntary manslaughter conviction.
"ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations remains committed to protecting public safety by locating and arresting criminal aliens who pose threats to our communities," Acting San Francisco Field Office Director Julio S. Hernandez said in a statement.
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Immigrant advocates and public defenders sharply criticized both the arrest and ICE's characterization of Ramos-Rodriguez.
"That's exactly what they always do. They call everyone criminals; they call everyone felons," said Francisco Ugarte, a deputy public defender in San Francisco. "It's the language of criminalization that's very powerful, that tends to win popular support."
When asked about Ramos-Rodriguez's reported manslaughter conviction, Ugarte said his office was still reviewing the facts of the case.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns among immigrant communities about increased federal enforcement activity in the Bay Area and the use of masked agents during operations, a tactic that critics say undermines public trust and accountability.
City leaders say the incident underscores the need for expanded legal resources for immigrants facing detention and deportation proceedings.
