Hundreds March from San Mateo to SF, Calling for Immigration Reform

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Key Takeaways

On February 16, 2025, hundreds marched 14 miles from San Mateo to San Francisco, demanding immigration reform and protesting mass deportations.
Protesters opposed President Trump’s policies, including mass deportation plans, 14th Amendment changes, and prosecutions of sanctuary state officials.
The march highlighted immigration policies’ human toll, especially on mixed-status families, emphasizing urgent mental health and societal disparity concerns.

On Sunday, February 16, 2025, hundreds of people gathered to make their voices heard during a powerful march from San Mateo 🇺🇸 to San Francisco 🇺🇸. The marchers called for immigration reform and protested against mass deportations. Organized by the Bay Area immigrant advocacy group Rights Over Borders, the event underscored growing discontent with recent federal immigration policies that directly impact undocumented communities. The day’s events showcased not only the strength of local advocates but also the pressing need to address the challenges faced by immigrant families and communities.

Details of the March

Hundreds March from San Mateo to SF, Calling for Immigration Reform

The march began early in the morning at 6:30 a.m., with about 75 participants gathering outside San Mateo City Hall. As the group made its way north along El Camino Real, more people joined in. By the time the march reached San Bruno City Hall, the crowd had grown to approximately 200 individuals. The 14-mile trek continued through Daly City, swelling to around 500 participants before the group completed their journey. In San Francisco, those who walked, carpooled, or used the BART joined additional supporters in front of San Francisco City Hall, creating a much larger assembly.

The protesters carried signs with powerful slogans like “Fight ignorance, not immigrants,” “Respect our existence or expect our resistance,” and “Nobody is illegal on stolen land.” These messages reflected a clear stance against recent enforcement policies. The participation of a diverse group, heavily made up of young adults but also including parents and older individuals, showed the broad impact of these issues across different age groups. As they marched, chants of “Si se puede,” meaning “Yes, you can,” echoed through the Bay Area streets—a rallying cry tied to the United Farm Workers of America.

The Policy Backdrop

The march took place in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which critics say target vulnerable populations. Upon beginning his second term in January 2025, President Trump announced plans for what he referred to as the largest mass deportation operation in American history. His administration has also pushed for changes to the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented parents.

As if these policies weren’t enough to heighten concerns, Trump has also declared his intention to prosecute state and local officials who fail to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. California’s designation as a sanctuary state—where local authorities do not collaborate with federal agencies on deportation efforts—has created a sharp conflict with federal leadership. Cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley offer even stronger protections for undocumented individuals, often putting them in direct opposition to federal policies. San Francisco, for example, is part of a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s demands for greater cooperation in carrying out deportations.

“This march is about standing up for our communities,” said Flor Martinez Zaragoza, a community advocate from San Jose. In an Instagram post, she shared the protesters’ demands: “We demand an immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for millions of our undocumented community members. We demand an end to the deportations that are terrorizing and kidnapping our community members.”

The Human Impact

At its core, this march shed light on the human cost of aggressive immigration policies, particularly on families with mixed-status members—where some are U.S. citizens while others may be undocumented. The protesters stressed that the burden of these policies often falls heavily on the most vulnerable, including children and teenagers.

According to public health research, Latinx/e adolescents are especially at risk when a family member is detained or deported. Studies show that these stressful experiences can cause anxiety and depression, particularly for mixed-status families where children born in the U.S. grow up under constant fear for their undocumented relatives. Adolescence is a critical time for emotional and mental development, but threats to family stability can seriously undermine that growth. Studies have further pointed to unique health disparities faced by the Latinx/e community, including higher rates of obesity and other serious health problems compared to non-Hispanic white populations. The added stress from immigration enforcement only worsens these challenges.

The protesters argued that a comprehensive solution is urgently needed—not only from a legal perspective but also for the well-being of affected communities. Experts suggest that reducing deportation efforts and addressing racial disparities in the legal system could help mitigate the long-term harm faced by immigrant communities, particularly younger generations.

California as a Sanctuary State

California’s longstanding sanctuary policies are central to the ongoing conflict between state and federal governments. These protections include limiting collaboration between local police and immigration enforcement, which has made cities like San Francisco safe havens for those without legal immigration status. However, President Trump’s insistence on sweeping deportation measures and threats to prosecute leaders of sanctuary states and cities have only escalated tensions.

The Trump administration’s January 2017 Executive Order titled Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States established the foundation for increased detentions and deportations during Trump’s first term. Critics of the administration argue that this enforcement approach doesn’t make communities safer but instead perpetuates fear and distrust, especially among immigrant groups who already face significant barriers to full societal participation.

In San Mateo County, where the march originated, local officials have expressed their commitment to protecting undocumented residents. This county is home to a significant population of immigrants, many of whom work in essential service industries that contribute to the region’s economy. Activists say that deportation policies fail to account for the contributions of these workers and their families.

Public and Broader Health Implications

Mental health is a major concern linked to the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The protesters highlighted the undeniable link between policies like mass deportations and increased risks of anxiety and depression, particularly for young people. Public health experts have warned that family separation and heightened immigration enforcement exacerbate racial health disparities, harming already vulnerable communities. Apart from the mental health toll, immigration enforcement contributes to broader societal divides, weakening trust between immigrant groups and public institutions like law enforcement.

The pressures placed on immigrant communities extend beyond California. Across the U.S., millions of families live in fear of separation. Though sanctuary states like California offer some protections, much of the advocacy still rests with grassroots organizations.

The Protesters’ Call to Action

The message of the march was clear: immigration reform must not wait. Attendees urged lawmakers to create a process that allows undocumented individuals to earn legal status and become citizens. Reforming current systems is not just a legal challenge but a moral obligation, they argued. For many protesters, Sunday’s march represented not only frustration with the current administration but a sign of hope for collective action that could lead to lasting change.

The political and social significance of this event is hard to ignore. It emphasized that immigration is not merely a policy discussion—it’s a deeply human one, affecting families, children, and communities across the U.S. Messages like “Fight ignorance, not immigrants” encapsulated the central demand for understanding and compassion in a charged and divisive political climate.

Final Thoughts

The San Mateo-to-San Francisco march showed yet again that grassroots efforts can shine a spotlight on larger national issues. The voices of the marchers remind us of the people behind the statistics—the families, youth, and workers whose lives are directly shaped by immigration policies. As reported by VisaVerge.com, events like this play a crucial role in giving marginalized groups a platform to speak for their rights and advocate for reform. For those seeking more information on immigration policies or resources, the official U.S. Government’s immigration site offers detailed guidance here.

With immigration remaining a contentious topic, the protesters’ message echoes far beyond the Bay Area. Their call for justice and humanity adds to the broader conversation about what America can and should be for its immigrant communities.

Learn Today

Immigration Reform → Changes to laws or policies aiming to improve or address issues within a country’s immigration system.
Mass Deportation → Large-scale removal of individuals who lack legal immigration status from a country, often with significant social impacts.
Sanctuary State → A state that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to protect undocumented individuals from deportation.
Birthright Citizenship → A legal right to citizenship for all individuals born in a country’s territory, regardless of their parents’ status.
Mixed-Status Families → Families where members have different immigration statuses, such as some being undocumented and others being citizens.

This Article in a Nutshell

On February 16, 2025, hundreds marched 14 miles from San Mateo to San Francisco demanding immigration reform and protesting mass deportations. With powerful chants like “Si se puede,” the diverse crowd highlighted the human cost of divisive policies. Their message was clear: compassion and justice must guide America’s approach to immigration.
— By VisaVerge.com