San Francisco deporting migrants linked to open-air drug markets

In response to increasing fentanyl overdoses, San Francisco is adopting a new strategy: deporting migrants from the city. San Francisco is grappling with a severe fentanyl crisis. Officials linked open-air drug markets in the city to a record number of overdose deaths. Last year, fentanyl overdoses resulted in 656 deaths, a 43% increase from the previous year.

Since last year, federal authorities charged more than 100 people, mostly undocumented immigrants, in connection with San Francisco's open-air drug markets. Those charged are often offered the option of a guilty plea, which typically leads to deportation, or face lengthy prison sentences.

In an interview with Bloomberg , San Francisco Mayor London Breed expressed support for this approach, asserting that it is necessary due to the severity of the fentanyl crisis.

"For people who are willing to sell poison that is killing people, there’s no protection for you," Breed said. "There’s no sanctuary for you."

The policy of deportation has faced criticism from local advocates who argue that it conflicts with San Francisco’s sanctuary policies. Those policies generally restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Despite this, Breed maintained that the city continues to offer protection and support to its immigrant community while addressing criminal activities related to the drug crisis.

Authorities said drug trafficking networks drive the fentanyl epidemic. They also said the epidemic exacerbates existing challenges like homelessness, crime and downtown revitalization. The city’s downtown area has a 37% office vacancy rate, and several major chain stores closed.

San Francisco’s efforts to curb fentanyl come as the epidemic largely revolves around the West Coast. Deaths from synthetic opioids soared from the Mexican border to San Francisco, Seattle and into Canada last year while remaining moderate in most other parts of the country.

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