Bay Area Leaders Warn of Disruption from Federal Immigration Enforcement

Experts say new tactics are eroding trust, scaring people away from schools and hospitals

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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At a Commonwealth Club town hall, a panel of Bay Area leaders and legal experts warned that a shift in federal immigration enforcement tactics is already disrupting daily life across Northern California. They described a "new legal regime" that is undermining trust in official statements, scaring people away from schools and hospitals, and raising concerns about potential misuse against activists and vulnerable communities.

Why it matters

The panelists said the fallout from increased federal immigration enforcement is already visible in Bay Area neighborhoods, with disruptions to family life, education, and access to healthcare. They warned that expanded detention capacity could further strain local infrastructure and create opportunities for abuse.

The details

The town hall featured speakers like ACLU of Northern California legal director Shilpi Agarwal, state Sen. Aisha Wahab, and Rev. Jon Pedigo. They discussed how the "presumption of regularity" in government behavior can no longer be taken for granted, and urged vigilance around tactics that bypass individualized probable cause. Panelists also highlighted recent Border Patrol operations that have been contradicted by video and agency records, prompting pushback from judges and civil rights lawyers.

  • The Commonwealth Club town hall took place on Monday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Shilpi Agarwal

Legal director of the ACLU of Northern California.

Aisha Wahab

California state senator.

Jon Pedigo

Reverend.

Sergio Olmos

Reporter for CalMatters.

Guy Marzorati

Moderator from KQED.

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What they’re saying

“The long‑standing 'presumption of regularity' – the assumption that government actors are behaving lawfully unless proven otherwise – can no longer be taken for granted as enforcement escalates.”

— Shilpi Agarwal, Legal director, ACLU of Northern California (SFGATE)

“Residents in my district are steering clear of institutions they once trusted. I cited two pregnant women who avoided hospital care out of fear and later lost their pregnancies, a stark example emblematic of consequences already unfolding across the region.”

— Aisha Wahab, California state senator (SFGATE)

What’s next

The panel urged cities and counties to hold the line on safeguards that keep schools, hospitals and civic institutions accessible, and to resist data‑sharing and operational arrangements that could turn local systems into force multipliers for large‑scale federal sweeps. They pressed for community monitoring, legal preparedness and sustained pressure on elected leaders to protect due process and public safety functions from being folded into immigration enforcement.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns about the disruptive impact of increased federal immigration enforcement on Bay Area communities, with experts warning that a "new legal regime" is eroding trust in institutions, scaring people away from accessing essential services, and raising the specter of potential misuse against vulnerable groups.