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Raw Video: Immigration enforcement in San Francisco's SoMa
Security video from WYZE shows immigration enforcement underway in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood Monday morning. The mayor says he is in contact with the Rapid Response Network on this case. They say the public defender's office has identified the man who was detained and that he is getting legal assistance and support.
SAN FRANCISCO - Following the arrest of a man swarmed by armed tactical officers and plainclothes agents in San Francisco, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Tuesday that its officers carried out the operation.
Federal officials said agents from the ICE San Francisco field office arrested 51-year-old Milton Ramos-Rodriguez, a citizen of El Salvador, on Monday morning in the city's SoMa neighborhood.
According to ICE, Ramos-Rodriguez was previously deported from the U.S. and has a prior conviction in California for voluntary manslaughter.
Federal authorities did not provide details regarding the conviction or specify when he was originally deported. ICE officials also alleged Ramos-Rodriguez has ties to the Sureños gang, but did not elaborate on how that connection was established.
"ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) remains committed to protecting public safety by locating and arresting criminal aliens who pose threats to our communities," said ERO San Francisco acting Field Office Director Julio S. Hernandez in a statement. "This enforcement action reflects the dedicated work of our officers and law enforcement partners to uphold the law and prioritize the safety and security of the public."
Milton Ramos-Rodriguez, 51, shown in this photo provided by ICE.
Bystander footage captures arrest
The operation took place Monday morning outside 360 6th Street. Video clips shared by an anonymous witness show Ramos-Rodriguez, dressed in a suit, backed against a metal grate and wall as officers move in.
"I'm not doing anything," Ramos-Rodriguez can be heard saying as at least four men struggle to detain him.
In one clip, a plainclothes agent wearing a red flannel shirt and a badge around his neck brandishes a firearm. Three other agents wearing tactical gear have their faces covered.
"I'm a U.S. citizen. You're not supposed to touch me," Ramos-Rodriguez says in the video, repeatedly asking to see the officers' badges and telling them, "Don't touch me."
Ramos-Rodriguez was eventually handcuffed and led away by agents. He remains in ICE custody.
ICE agents arrest woman at SFO, bystanders capture on video
An airport spokesperson said the ICE action was unrelated to President Trump's directive to deploy agents to airports nationwide to assist the TSA.
Advocates, city officials respond
The San Francisco Rapid Response Network said it is aware of the video footage and is in contact with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office regarding the immigration case.
"It is outrageous for a plainclothes ICE agent to pull a gun on someone walking down the streets of our city," the public defender's office said in a statement.." Our Immigration Defense Unit is mobilizing to ensure that the man has legal representation. We are part of a robust network of Bay Area immigrant rights advocates who will not tolerate violence by ICE agents in our communities."
In response to increased federal immigration enforcement, city officials announced an emergency rally for immigrant services on the steps of San Francisco City Hall.
The Source: Statement and details provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside bystander video and statements from the San Francisco Public Defender's Office and the Rapid Response Network.