Coast Guard Supports CBP Operations Amid Controversy in San Francisco

Thu Oct 23 2025 12:52:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The U.S. Coast Guard has established a base for Customs and Border Protection agents in Alameda, provoking significant backlash from local officials in San Francisco and beyond.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced the establishment of a base for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Alameda, intending to enhance efforts against illegal immigration and bolster border security. This move has been met with severe condemnation from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who argued that it could incite violence. The decision is part of a federal strategy to manage immigration enforcement in the region, despite local officials asserting that it contradicts the values of sanctuary cities. Legal battles loom as state leaders prepare to challenge any military deployment.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard stated on Wednesday that it has created a base of operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in the San Francisco area, a move designed to enhance federal efforts in tracking down undocumented immigrants while also providing maritime security.

According to reports from The San Francisco Chronicle, which cited an anonymous source privy to the operations, more than 100 federal agents from CBP are set to arrive in Alameda as early as Thursday. This plan has been swiftly condemned by San Francisco's Mayor Daniel Lurie and California Governor Gavin Newsom, both Democrats, who contend that the surge in federal presence is orchestrated to provoke violent protests.

A statement from the Coast Guard emphasized its dedication to a comprehensive government approach to detect, deter, and interdict illegal aliens, narco-terrorists, and individuals intent on terrorism or other hostile activity before they reach our border. However, Governor Newsom firmly stated that he would respond aggressively against any deployments, indicating lawyers would be prepared to challenge federal actions in court.

“In cities across the country, masked immigration officials are deployed to use aggressive enforcement tactics that instill fear so people don’t feel safe going about their daily lives,” Lurie expressed during a livestream statement from City Hall, which was attended by various elected officials. He also warned against providing federal agencies the rationale to escalate actions they may deem necessary. That sentiment has been echoed by other local leaders, including Oakland's Mayor Barbara Lee, who stated, “Real public safety comes from Oakland-based solutions, not federal military occupation.”

President Trump has previously vocalized intentions to deploy National Guard troops to San Francisco, connecting their presence to a perception of rising crime in the area. However, local leaders challenge these claims, pointing out trends indicating that many types of crimes have seen considerable declines. As tensions grow over federal immigration policies, this latest deployment is likely to intensify the existing divide between federal and local authorities.

Both Mayor Lurie and Governor Newsom have committed to laddering up legal action should the federal government move forward with plans for military involvement in San Francisco. Newsom described his response as crucial, reading a prepared lawsuit that he would file immediately in the event of such deployments. The Coast Guard base in Alameda is strategically located between areas recognized as sanctuaries that typically do not engage in federal enforcement actions regarding immigration.