ICE detains immigrants up to 72 hours at SF field office

ICE is holding immigrants for days inside its San Francisco field office at 630 Sansome St., citing a surge in arrests and a shortage of detention beds. Advocates say cells there lack beds, private toilets, and adequate medical care, raising serious safety and due process concerns.

Recent policy change and timeline

In early 2025, the maximum holding time at field offices rose from 12 to 72 hours. ICE says the change is needed to process more arrests and transfer people when space opens. Advocates and attorneys, however, report that the practice has intensified since early 2025 and that people often spend multiple days inside before transfer, frequently out of state.

Key facts and current numbers

• As of July 27, 2025, nearly 57,000 people were in ICE detention nationwide — up from just under 40,000 in January (a 42% increase in seven months).
• ICE’s contractual capacity was 62,913 beds as of April 14, 2025, with 48,056 people detained that night.
• The San Francisco office at 630 Sansome St. is designed for short-term intake, not multi-day stays; it has no beds and no private toilets.
• Field office holding time rose to 72 hours in early 2025; transfers commonly move people to larger facilities (often in Fresno or Arizona) and sometimes much farther.

Conditions inside the office

People detained at 630 Sansome St. describe:
– Sleeping on floors or benches.
– Receiving minimal meals (for example, granola bars and burritos).
– Lack of privacy for toilet use and limited access to medical staff.

At least one person required a hospital transfer after a medical emergency. Advocates say these conditions worsen stress and can pressure people to abandon legal claims.

“Conditions discourage immigrants from pursuing legal claims,” attorneys say, adding that family ties break when people are moved far from their home courts.

ICE’s position and standards

ICE states that extended stays at field offices are rare and that detainees receive ample food, regular phone access, legal representation, and medical care. The agency cites revised 2025 National Detention Standards (NDS), which:

• Allow emergency use of temporary bed space (e.g., triple bunks) for up to 90 days, with possible 30-day extensions.
• Require adequate medical and security staffing for such emergency measures.

ICE has not specified medical staffing levels at the San Francisco site.

Advocates and legal response

• Immigration attorneys (including those with the Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco) warn poor conditions can separate families and discourage legal fights.
• Mission Action (overseeing the San Francisco Rapid Response Network) reports more than 20 recent detentions at the office, including families with children.
• Legal groups are considering lawsuits to stop the use of field offices as de facto detention centers.

Policy shifts and enforcement targets

• In May 2025, the Trump administration raised ICE’s daily arrest quota from 1,800 to 3,000.
• That target increased arrests at field offices and courthouses and, combined with limited bed space, pushed more temporary holding at sites like 630 Sansome St.
• The new NDS took effect June 18, 2025, permitting emergency beds but assuming proper staffing and facility readiness—conditions advocates say do not exist in San Francisco.

Impact on people and due process

• Detention: Individuals may be held up to 72 hours at a site with no beds or private toilets before transfer to larger facilities, often far from family and counsel.
• Health and safety: Poor sleep, stress, and lack of privacy increase health risks; on-site medical care appears insufficient.
• Legal access: Phone access may be limited; rapid transfers impede finding counsel and collecting evidence.
• Families: Asylum seekers and long-time residents attending ICE check-ins risk arrest on site; families can lose contact during transfers.

California oversight

The California Attorney General continues to monitor ICE facilities statewide. An April 2025 report flagged health care and overcrowding issues. The office is accepting complaints and reviewing conditions at sites across the state, including San Francisco.

What to do if someone is detained at 630 Sansome St.

1. Call a lawyer immediately.
   • Ask the detained person to request a “credible fear” screening if they fear harm back home (this triggers an asylum interview).
2. Keep documents ready:
   • ID, immigration records, proof of residence, medical information, and family contact details.
3. Stay in touch:
   • Ask for the Alien Number (A-Number) to check location after transfers.
4. Contact local support:
   • The San Francisco Rapid Response Network can provide legal referrals and help maintain family communication.
5. File complaints:
   • Families and attorneys may submit complaints to ICE ERO or the California Attorney General’s office.

Important official resource

The 2025 National Detention Standards govern facility operations and oversight. They detail ICE’s requirements on food, medical care, phones, and transfers. Review the standards on ICE’s detention management page for details, forms, and inspection protocols.

Quotes and voices

• Attorneys: Conditions “discourage immigrants from pursuing legal claims” and break family ties by moving people far from home courts.
• Community groups: Report multi-day holding without beds and limited medical responses, warning parents traveling with children may accept removal to end harsh conditions.
• ICE: Says services meet standards and extended holds are uncommon but has not clarified medical staffing at the San Francisco site.

Alternatives to detention and local context

• As of December 2024, the San Francisco Field Office’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program listed more than 187,000 people.
• ATD components: check-ins, GPS ankle monitors, and phone reporting.
• Advocates argue the office should expand ATD use to reduce risky holding at 630 Sansome St. and avoid transfers that cut people off from lawyers and families.

Practical steps for families and attorneys

• Keep a detention plan: Identify a lawyer before any ICE check-in; share emergency contacts and copies of key documents.
• Prepare a medical summary: Include conditions, medications, and allergies; request medical care in writing and keep notes.
• Document treatment: Log meals, sleep conditions, toilet access, and denied phone calls—this record can support later legal motions.
• Track transfers: Use the A-Number to locate the new facility and court; ask ICE for transfer notices and schedules.

Background trends and what’s next

• The national detention population rose after the daily arrest quota increased. If overcrowding continues, possible responses include:
  • ICE seeking more funding or new bed contracts.
  • Further adjustments to detention standards.
  • Lawsuits that could limit field office stays or mandate minimum conditions (beds, private toilets, on-site medical staff).
• The California Attorney General’s forthcoming reports may increase pressure for local reforms.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, longer holds at field offices reveal a mismatch between enforcement targets and real capacity. The report recommends oversight spot checks at offices not built for overnight stays—especially busy sites like 630 Sansome St. in San Francisco.

Community impact

• Local schools, clinics, and faith groups report increased stress among immigrant families.
• Employers lose workers after sudden arrests at check-ins.
• Public health workers worry about untreated conditions during multi-day holds.
• Advocates push for rapid legal screenings and broader ATD use to reduce harm while cases proceed.

The bottom line: More people are being held by ICE, and bed space has not kept pace. In San Francisco, holding people for days inside a field office without beds or private toilets is occurring despite official standards. Families and lawyers should plan ahead, document conditions, and use complaint channels. Pressure from courts, the California Attorney General, and community groups will likely shape whether this practice continues and whether ICE adds basic protections at 630 Sansome St.