President Donald Trump said he may send federal forces and the National Guard to San Francisco as part of his ambitious plan to “restore order” in Democratic-governed cities, which he has repeatedly singled out as hotbeds of insecurity.
During a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, October 15 and accompanied by FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump described his security strategy as “amazing” and assured that it is “just getting started.”
Trump threatens to send federal forces to San Francisco
TRUMP: San Francisco was a great city 15 years ago.
ME: Why, thank you! pic.twitter.com/t8XUeH63cG
– Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 15, 2025
Among the cities he mentioned, he noted that San Francisco could be the next to receive federal support.
Although he did not give specific dates or details, he made it clear that the action is part of a broader policy to intervene in areas he considers “overrun by crime”.
Trump has already deployed federal forces to cities such as Washington D.C. and Chicago under the so-called Operation Midway Blitz, launched on September 6.
In Chicago, the strategy has involved the Border Patrol, and more than 1,500 people have since been arrested, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures.
Such deployments have generated strong legal and political reactions.
For example, in Oregon, a judge extended an order blocking the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland due to doubts about its legislative authority.
In San Francisco, the proposal also faces local opposition.
Mayor Daniel Lurie, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto have publicly stated that they do not support federal intervention, calling it a form of authoritarian imposition.
However, there are voices that support the idea.
Tech mogul Marc Benioff (CEO of Salesforce) has called for a National Guard presence in San Francisco to combat crime, and figures such as Elon Musk have expressed support for such intervention.
San Francisco, meanwhile, reports one of its lowest homicide rates in decades in 2025, which city advocates use to question the need for sending in federal troops.
From a legal standpoint, federal deployment of troops for local security functions may conflict with laws such as the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement without clear authorization from Congress or state power.
For the Hispanic community in the U.S., this situation is relevant because it opens a debate about how far federal power can go vis-à-vis local governments, and what risk exists that citizens with irregular – or even legal – immigration status could be affected in large-scale federal operations.
If you live in California or a city with high levels of police tension, it is important to know your rights:
If federal forces enter your location, you should know if there are court orders authorizing such intervention.
The state National Guard is generally under the governor’s control; federalizing it changes the chain of command.
Any detention must meet legal criteria for review, rights to counsel and, in many cases, that there be a warrant.
Filed under: Federal forces in San Francisco
