OAKLAND, CA — Federal agents are headed to the San Francisco area ahead of an immigration operation in the region, the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times reported on Oct. 22.

The Times, citing the U.S. Coast Guard and three unnamed officials, reported that the federal agents are planning to gather at the Coast Guard base in Alameda, California. The Chronicle reported that more than 100 federal agents, including those from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would be involved in the operation and begin arriving as soon as Oct. 23.

It is unclear if National Guard troops will be deployed to the area. The Chronicle was the first to report that federal agents were being sent to Alameda.

In response, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, flanked by city leaders, said during a news briefing on Oct. 22 that they have been anticipating for months the possibility of some type of federal deployment. Lurie said he signed an executive directive in preparation to "strengthen the city’s support for our immigrant communities, and ensure our departments are coordinated" ahead of any unwanted federal presence.

"We can't prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration laws. But we're going to keep our local law enforcement focused on ensuring your safety," Lurie said. "Second, we are going to make our voice heard- peacefully. Violent behavior towards officers or others, or destructive behavior towards local businesses, will absolutely not be tolerated."

The Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a statement said that the base in Alameda will support CBP agents beginning Oct. 22 as a place of operations.

"This support of DHS agencies continues the Coast Guard’s operations to control, secure, and defend U.S. borders and maritime approaches," the Coast Guard said. "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."

Homeland Security said in a statement that it is "targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens — including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists — in cities such as Portland, Chicago, Memphis and San Francisco. As it does every day, DHS law enforcement will enforce the laws of our nation."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that California law protects communities and prevents federal agents from taking certain actions occurring in other states.

"While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them," said Pelosi, the Democratic Congresswoman from San Francisco, in a joint statement with fellow San Francisco Congressman Kevin Mullin, also a Democrat.

"The people of San Francisco will continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America," their statement concluded. "We will not be intimidated by politically motivated fear tactics."

Immigration enforcement across the United States

The federal agents' pending arrival in Northern California comes days after a federal appeals court agreed that President Donald Trump could send 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, to quell protests, as part of his campaign to strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide. The president federalized 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to protect an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

The agents' possible deployment to Northern California also comes after a federal judge on Oct. 22 said she will extend an order blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, possibly setting up whether the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on the case. Meanwhile, federal immigration enforcement agents raided Little Village, a longtime historic mostly Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, on Oct. 22, removing several people, causing car accidents, and brandishing weapons, local leaders, advocates, and residents told USA TODAY.

Los Angeles County has also been at the core of Trump's immigration crackdown. The president sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to protect federal buildings and protect ICE agents who conducted numerous raids, leading to countless protests.

Trump: 'We’re going to go to San Francisco next'

Trump told Fox News on Oct. 19 that he would deploy the National Guard to San Francisco. Trump has said publicly on multiple occasions that he would consider sending troops to the city.

"We’re going to go to San Francisco next," said Trump during an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. "The difference is, I think they want us in San Francisco. San Francisco was truly one of the great cities of the world. And then, 15 years ago, it went wrong. It went woke."

Trump also hinted to the network that he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to San Francisco.

"And don’t forget, and I haven’t used it, but don’t forget. I can use the Insurrection Act," Trump told Bartiromo. "Fifty percent of the presidents, almost, have used that, and that’s unquestioned power."

Newsom vows to sue Trump if feds arrive in San Francisco

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement on Oct. 21 that he intends to sue the Trump administration if it deploys the National Guard to San Francisco.

"We don't bow to kings, and we're standing up to this wannabe tyrant," Newsom said. "The notion that the federal government can deploy troops into our cities with no justification grounded in reality, no oversight, no accountability, no respect for state sovereignty - it's a direct assault on the rule of law."

Newsom reiterated his threat to sue again to reporters on Oct. 22, saying the Trump administration's pending move is "straight out of an authoritarian's playbook."

"We're going to be fierce in terms of our response. We're going to be focused," said Newsom, apparently holding a copy of a lawsuit that he said he would "file in a nanosecond." Newsom also said the federal presence is unwelcome, citing that San Francisco's crime rates are the lowest in 60 years.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Michael Loria, Suzette Hackney, Michael Collins, and Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal agents headed to San Francisco area ahead of immigration operation, reports say

Reporting by Terry Collins, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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