San Francisco deporting migrants linked to open-air drug markets

[KARAH RUCKER]

IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING FENTANYL OVERDOSES, SAN FRANCISCO IS ADOPTING A NEW STRATEGY –

DEPORTING MIGRANTS FROM THEIR CITY.

SAN FRANCISCO IS GRAPPLING WITH A SEVERE FENTANYL CRISIS. 

OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKETS IN THE CITY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A RECORD NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS. 

LAST YEAR, FENTANYL OVERDOSES RESULTED IN 656 DEATHS –

WHICH IS A 43% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SINCE LAST YEAR, FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAVE CHARGED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE – MOSTLY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS –

IN CONNECTION WITH SAN FRANCISCO’S OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKETS. 

THOSE CHARGED ARE OFTEN PRESENTED WITH THE OPTION OF A GUILTY PLEA, WHICH TYPICALLY LEADS TO DEPORTATION – 

OTHERWISE FACE A LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH BLOOMBERG –

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED SHOWED SUPPORT FOR THIS APPROACH –

ASSERTING THAT IT IS NECESSARY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE FENTANYL CRISIS. 

BREED SAYS –

“FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SELL POISON THAT IS KILLING PEOPLE, THERE’S NO PROTECTION FOR YOU. THERE’S NO SANCTUARY FOR YOU.”

THE POLICY OF DEPORTATION HAS BEEN MET WITH CRITICISM FROM LOCAL ADVOCATES WHO ARGUE THAT IT CONFLICTS WITH SAN FRANCISCO’S SANCTUARY POLICIES, WHICH GENERALLY RESTRICT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM COOPERATING WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. 

DESPITE THIS, BREED MAINTAINS THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO OFFER PROTECTION AND SUPPORT TO ITS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE DRUG CRISIS.

THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC IS DRIVEN BY DANGEROUS DRUG TRAFFICKING NETWORKS ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES –

AND IT’S FURTHER PILING ONTO SAN FRANCISCO’S EXISTING CHALLENGES – INCLUDING ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, CRIME AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. 

THE CITY’S DOWNTOWN AREA HAS A 37% OFFICE VACANCY RATE AS SEVERAL BIG CHAIN STORES ARE MOVING OUT OF THE CITY –

SAN FRANCISCO’S EFFORTS TO CURB FENTANYL COMES AS THE EPIDEMIC IS NOW LARGELY CENTERED ON THE WEST COAST.

FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER TO SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE AND INTO CANADA –

DEATHS FROM SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS SOARED LAST YEAR –

WHILE MODERATING IN MOST OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

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