(MENAFN) The Trump administration is preparing to deploy more than 100 federal agents to the San Francisco Bay Area as part of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The announcement has quickly ignited fierce criticism from California leaders, who are calling the move politically motivated and dangerous.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the action, calling it “right out of the dictator’s handbook” and accusing President Donald Trump of using the operation to stoke "anxiety and fear in the community" for political gain. In a video posted on the social media platform X, Newsom stated: “He sends out masked men, he sends out border patrol, he sends out ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). This is no different than the arsonist putting out the fire.”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also weighed in, criticizing the aggressive tactics of immigration officials. “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 life,” he said. “These tactics are designed to incite backlash, chaos and violence, which are then used as an excuse to deploy military personnel. They are intentionally creating a dangerous situation in the name of public safety,” Lurie added.

Democrats Claim Crime Crackdown is a Pretext for Military Deployment
On October 16, President Trump suggested that San Francisco could be next on the list for his administration’s ongoing federal crackdown on crime. Speaking at a news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump emphasized that many cities run by Republicans have higher crime rates. This has led many Democrats to claim that the crackdown is merely a pretext to normalize the deployment of troops to US cities for covert purposes.

“I’m going to be strongly recommending at the request of government officials … that you start looking at San Francisco,” Trump said, adding: “Every American deserves to live in a community where they're not afraid of being mugged, murdered, robbed, raped, assaulted, or shot.”

Trump went on to criticize the city’s decline over the years, stating: “I think we can make San Francisco – there’s one of our great cities 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and now it’s a mess, and we have great support in San Francisco.”

However, polls show widespread opposition to the deployment of federal agents, both in California and across the nation. Local leaders have voiced strong opposition, echoing concerns about the destabilizing effects of such operations. So far, Trump has sent the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, DC, with plans to deploy forces to Memphis, Tennessee. In June, he also sent hundreds of US Marines to Los Angeles to quell unrest triggered by his immigration crackdown.

Critics argue that these aggressive tactics, under the guise of public safety, are undermining local law enforcement and exacerbating tension in communities.

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