Demonstrations Erupt as Federal Agents Prepare Operations in Northern California
More than 200 protesters gathered early Thursday outside Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, attempting to block access to the base amid reports that it would serve as an operational hub for upcoming federal immigration raids across the San Francisco Bay Area.
The protests began after federal officials confirmed Wednesday that the Alameda base was being used as a coordination site for immigration enforcement actions scheduled to begin Friday. However, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said he had received assurances from President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that no federal agents would be deployed to San Francisco itself.
It remains unclear whether federal operations will proceed in other Bay Area cities, though agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly began arriving Wednesday in preparation for the raids.
Police Use Crowd-Control Munitions
By 7:30 a.m. Thursday, tensions had escalated outside the Alameda base as federal authorities deployed crowd-control munitions to disperse protesters blocking the roadway. Witnesses reported at least two loud detonations, which sent the crowd scattering. Protesters said the devices appeared to be pepper bombs, and one man was reportedly injured.
Demonstrators held signs reading “No ICE or Troops in the Bay” and “No Hate No Fear, Immigrants Are Welcome Here.” A line of U.S. Coast Guard police officers stood guard at the base entrance, which is connected to the mainland by a single bridge.
Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Coast Guard responded immediately to requests for comment.
Protesters Reject Federal Presence
Despite the heavy law enforcement presence, the protest took on a spirited and creative tone reminiscent of recent anti-ICE demonstrations in Portland, Oregon. Participants sang peace songs, and one protester dressed as a clown made balloon animals as others painted and played music.
“Many of us believe our faith is calling us to be here,” said Gala King, an organizer with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, one of the groups behind the demonstration. “They’re trying to wreak havoc and fear and economic hardship in the Bay Area, and we’re not going to let them do that.”
Protesters emphasized their opposition to what they described as federal intimidation tactics under the Trump administration. “We’re here to make it clear that our communities stand united — no raids, no troops, no fear,” said one attendee.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The planned immigration enforcement operation has sparked intense political debate. California Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration of using the raids to provoke unrest and justify a potential military deployment in the region.
“It’s absolutely predictable,” Newsom said Wednesday at an event in Stockton. “It’s a script that’s been written for centuries — the authoritarian playbook. Create chaos, then claim credit for restoring order.”
President Trump, in an interview aired Sunday on Fox News, defended his plans, saying, “San Francisco was truly one of the great cities of the world. And then 15 years ago it went wrong, it went woke.”
As of Thursday evening, no National Guard troops had been mobilized, and there was no confirmation that raids would proceed. But tensions remain high across the Bay Area, with advocacy groups and local leaders pledging continued resistance to any federal enforcement actions targeting immigrant communities.
