SF Officials Seek $5 Million To Protect Undocumented Immigrants From Deportation
It could be the next step in the fight over sanctuary cities.
Outgoing Supervisor David Campos and Public Defender Jeff Adachi were being joined by immigration rights activists on the steps of City Hall for a noon press conference.
Campos will introduce legislation that would set aside $5 million to help pay for lawyers to represent undocumented San Franciscans in case immigration authorities try to deport them.
Half of that money would go to Adachi's office to hire more immigration attorneys.
President-elect Trump told '60 Minutes' earlier this month that he will go after two to three million undocumented immigrants who are convicted felons - a number that many experts say is probably exaggerated.
Trump said he would decide later what to do about the other eight to 10 million immigrants who are here illegally but otherwise law-abiding.
He also vows to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities, so if San Francisco stands firm on its refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, it could cost the city up to $1 billion - which doesn't include the $5 million Campos hopes the board will approve before he leaves office later this month.