Undocumented Immigrant to Get $190k From San Francisco

The city of San Francisco has agreed to payout $190,000 to an undocumented immigrant.

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The Salvadoran, Pedro Figueroa-Zarceno, was detained and held for several weeks after police violated the sanctuary city ordinance.

In Dec. 2015, the Central American national went to report that his car had been stolen when officers discovered he had a decade-old outstanding civil warrant.

The 33-year-old undocumented immigrant was held, then reported and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He would spend the following several weeks in the custody of ICE before being released.

"As a victim of crime, Pedro Figueroa was exactly the type of person who should have been protected by our sanctuary ordinance," Saira Hussain, his attorney, said.

"Instead, he sought help from SFPD (San Francisco Police Department) to find his stolen car and was arrested and turned over to ICE."

Under San Francisco's sanctuary city ordinance, employees are prohibited "from using city funds or resources to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the enforcement of federal immigration law, unless such assistance is required by federal or state law."

Those are the grounds on which Figueroa-Zarceno filed a suit against the city – which eschewed a legal battle in favor the $190,000 settlement.

But, before the money can be dispersed, the city board must participate in a final vote on the agreement. According to the San Francisco Examiner, this vote will likely take place in July

Hussain said she hopes the settlement sends a message to law enforcement that the sanctuary city ordinance must be adhered to.

"It's really important for San Francisco to remain a sanctuary city not in name only but also in practice," the attorney told the newspaper.

"At a time when the current presidential administration is attacking immigrant communities, it is crucial for people of conscience to stand up and speak out against this scapegoating. In a community as diverse and immigrant-rich as San Francisco, our policies must reflect our values," she added.