Trump Calls Off Federal Deployment In San Francisco

Update 11 a.m.: President Donald Trump has at least temporarily called off plans to surge federal agents into San Francisco this weekend, according to the New York Times.

The Times reported Trump nixed the plan at the recommendation of friends who work in tech and live in the Bay Area.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured him in separate calls that Border Patrol agents would not be deployed to the city, the Times reported.

Earlier:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Protests are expected Thursday in response to the Trump administration's deployment of federal agents to the Bay Area.

At least one rally and march by the Bay Resistance group is expected to take place on Thursday at 5 p.m. San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza. A vigil is also planned for Friday at local San Francisco libraries, according to the Bay Resistance group.

"Trump has made it clear: he wants to tear down the Bay and California because of what we represent — our diversity, our respect and care for our neighbors regardless of where each of us was born and the spirit of resistance that runs deep in our bones," Bay Resistance said in a post on social media. "The people of the Bay Area are united and we refuse to allow Trump to divide us."

More than 100 federal agents, including those from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, are expected to arrive Thursday at the Coast Guard Base in Alameda, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. It's unclear whether that will include agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Some of those agents appeared to have already arrived at the base, according to a report by ABC. Protesters can also be seen walking back and forth on a sidewalk near the base.

A statement provided to media by the Coast Guard said in part that “through a whole of government approach, we are leveraging our unique authorities and capabilities to detect, deter, and interdict illegal aliens, narco-terrorists, and individuals intent on terrorism or other hostile activity before they reach our border.”

The move comes days after San Francisco officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, publicly opposed Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops into the Bay Area. While the National Guard has not yet been deployed, this decision will likely serve as a precursor to sending troops to San Francisco, according to the report.

Soon after the deployment was first reported, Lurie livestreamed a nine-minute statement from City Hall, flanked by other elected officials, and cautioned against giving federal officials working from “a playbook” any excuse to crack down. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he plans to deploy National Guard troops to the city to quell crime, but his administration hasn't offered a timeline for doing so.

“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 lives,” Lurie said. “These tactics are designed to incite backlash, chaos and violence, which are then used as an excuse to deploy military personnel."

Lurie urged the public to protest peacefully. He said he had just signed an executive directive to coordinate the city's response to a potential federal deployment and provide support for immigrants.

The directive includes actions to bolster support for immigrant communities and also coordinate local law enforcement and the city's Department of Emergency Management to help promote public safety.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee issued a statement saying, “Real public safety comes from Oakland-based solutions, not federal military occupation.

Trump has deployed the Guard to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, to help fight what he says is rampant crime. Los Angeles was the first city where Trump deployed the Guard, arguing it was necessary to protect federal buildings and federal agents as protesters fought back against mass immigration arrests.

A judge ruled last month that Trump violated federal law when he deployed the troops in Southern California.

JANIE HAR, Associated Press contributed to this report.