Demonstrators take to streets over ICE arrests as San Francisco, South Bay sue Trump

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dozens of activists from various South Bay groups marched through the streets of Downtown San Jose on Friday, shouting, "Stand up! Fight back!," and "Si se puede!" The chants reflected a united message to the larger community: Stand together or fall under oppression.

"San Jose at times can feel very divisive. And if you were born and raised here like I was, you know we tend to operate secularly, each group staying with their own group. But right now we need to come together on a united front," said activist Ashlie Andrade.

Demonstrators walked approximately five blocks to city hall, where they held a rally they say is fueled by the Trump Administration's efforts to deport undocumented migrants.

Days ago, San Jose councilman Peter Ortiz warned his District 5 constituents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities to make arrests. Ortiz said now he's in the Justice Department's crosshairs.

"... They're calling for my arrest. If that's the case, then I know I'm doing a good job. I didn't run for office to make Fox News happy. I didn't run for office to make rich people, oligarchs happy. I ran to advocate for the working people of East San Jose," he said. 

Added Santa Clara County Counsel Tony Lopresti, "The federal government can't commandeer our local government. They can't commandeer our local resources."

Also on Friday and 50 miles north in a San Francisco office, attorneys who represent Santa Clara County and the City of San Francisco announced the filing of a joint lawsuit over President Trump's plans to cut funding for so-called sanctuary cities.

"The Trump administration is certainly interfering with our ability to do our job. They're trying to take away our autonomy and interfering with our ability to keep our residents safe," said David Chiu, the San Francisco city attorney.

Other municipalities, such as New Haven, Conn., Portland, Ore., and King County, Wash., have also joined the suit, which seeks to block Trump from withholding federal funding for sanctuary cities.

Back in the South Bay, immigration enforcement by federal agents is having a galvanizing effect on many minority communities. Many members are fearful those who are current targets could lead the authorities to feel emboldened and eventually target all communities.

"Once Trump declared war on the Hispanic community which he has and [is trying] to get rid of them, that they're going to go to the African American community," said Ryan Otis of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP.

South Bay and San Francisco officials stressed their police or sheriff's departments are not and will not help ICE agents in their enforcement actions.

Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on the Instagram platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU