A middle school student’s report of being confronted by an ICE agent Thursday on the 29 Sunset bus is false, the mayor’s office and federal officials said Friday.
“After conducting a thorough multiagency review, we are confident and relieved that there was no federal immigration enforcement action on a Muni bus yesterday,” said Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for Mayor Daniel Lurie. “At the same time, the fear in our community is real, and that fear makes all of San Francisco less safe.”
Earlier, ICE denied that its agents confronted a student.
“This was not a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter,” the agency said in a statement.
The rumor gained traction quickly from an email circulating on social media that said a Visitacion Valley Middle School student reported that an ICE agent approached them on the bus and asked for identification. The email appeared to be from Burton High School leadership.
The email said the student who reported the incident was “safe” and with family.
“In SFUSD it is our goal to only communicate facts to our school communities, and we use our best judgment when determining how to share information,” the email said. “In this case, we recognize this incident is alarming for those who are aware of it, and we want to be proactive in letting you know about the steps being taken to keep our students, families, and staff safe.”
Officials at the two schools have not responded to requests for comment. SFUSD spokesperson Laura Dudnick confirmed that a Visitacion Valley student reported seeing an immigration officer on a city bus.
A representative of the San Francisco Rapid Response Network, which responds to ICE actions, said it had not verified reports of the incident.
“So far, we believe it’s a rumor,” the representative said. “Our message to the public is: Don’t spread rumors.”
The representative added that the network had received about 20 calls from families, city agencies, and school district officials seeking information about the report, but none from people with knowledge of the incident.
A separate message sent from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to Muni operators appeared to have been prompted by the incident. “In the event of law enforcement boarding your coach and identifying themselves as ICE agents, please call TMC immediately priority,” the message said.
Chris Ballard, executive director of the youth nonprofit Coleman Advocates, said that even if the rumor was false, it reflects San Franciscans’ spiking anxieties over immigration raids. He referenced Bakersfield, where parents fearing ICE raids are staying home from work and keeping their children home from school.
“How did we get here?” Ballard said. “How did we go backward four years?”
While President Trump has launched efforts that target immigrants, Lurie’s office said he would abide by the San Francisco’s protections for migrants that prohibit city employees from cooperating with ICE.
“Mayor Lurie is fully committed to upholding San Francisco’s longstanding policies,” Lutvak’s statement said. “Their purpose is not to interfere with federal immigration enforcement but to ensure that all residents can feel safe interacting with local law enforcement and accessing city services.”
The incident should remind immigrants and their families to exercise their rights, said Supervisor Shamann Walton. He encouraged people to remain silent when questioned about their immigration status, ask to see a warrant if ICE agents want to enter a private space, and request a lawyer if they are detained.
“Let’s stand together to protect everyone’s rights in our community,” Walton’s statement said.
Jonah Owen Lamb contributed to this report.