Bradford Wells and Anthony John Makk, a married gay San Francisco couple who were almost forced to split up last fall due to the threat of Makk's looming deportation, will be able to stay together for at least two more years. Makk, who is an Australian citizen, has been married to Wells, a U.S. citizen, for 19 years but was denied a green card under the Defense of Marriage Act. more ›

Governor Jerry Brown today signed the controversial California Dream Act, which will make it legal for undocumented immigrant college students to get public financial aid. The Sacto Bee notes: "The California Dream Act allows access to public financial aid, including Cal Grants, for undocumented students who came to the country before turning 16 and attended California high schools. Those students already are eligible for in-state tuition, and Brown in July signed a companion measure affording them access to private financial aid." more ›

Michael Erickson of Belmont won approval from the secretary of state to start petitioning signatures for a ballot initiative that is more or less the same wording as that controversial Arizona immigration law passed earlier this year. If Erickson collects the necessary 433,971 signatures from registered voters by next April, the 2012 ballot will have an initiative which, per the Chronicle, "would require state law enforcement officials to investigate a person's immigration status if they are 'reasonably suspicious' the person is in the country illegally." It would also make it a crime to hire an illegal immigrant, whether or not you were aware of their citizenship status. [Chron] more ›

The protest to keep 20-year-old Steve Li in the country on Friday was outside Barbara Boxer's SF offices, but it was Senator Dianne Feinstein who stepped in Sunday to ask immigration officials to delay Li's deportation. "I have asked ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to halt the deportation proceedings while I consider introducing a private bill that will allow Mr. Li to remain in the United States on a temporary basis," Feinstein said in a statement. She is a supporter of the Dream Act, which Congress has yet to vote on, which would allow foreign students in Li's position to remain in the country, and she says it would be unjust to deport him before that was voted on. more ›

All over the news the past day or so has been the story of 20-year-old Steve Li, the would-be nursing student who was arrested at his San Francisco home in September for being here illegally and who's scheduled to be deported on Monday. Steve moved here with his parents, who first emigrated from China to Peru, where Steve was born, in order to avoid political persecution. Li's whole family was denied political asylum in the U.S. five years ago, and now Steve is going to be sent back to Peru, where he knows no one. more ›

Last night, 19 protesters were arrested during a sit-in on Seventh Street for immigration rights. Organized by the SF Bay Area Coalition for Immigration Reform, the majority of those arrested were clergymen. more ›

With only two weeks away from the June 8 primary, gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman slams San Francisco in her latest attack ad. more ›

In news that will shock 0.0 people, the city of Berkeley boycotted Arizona over the red state's creepy immigration law. (San Francisco, if you recall, agreed to some sort of boycott in April.) The City Council voted unanimously on last night "to restrict staff from traveling to the state on city business." In related news, California gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and and Steve Poizner are arguing over who loves SB 1070 more. Whitman, we should point out, promises to bring in the National Guard to rape and vivisect anyone who even looks at the Mexico-Cali border. Or something like that. [via KTVU] more ›

Donnell Allen, 42, a black San Francisco resident, and Kelsey Musgrove, 19, a white female from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were hit with felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and conspiracy, and a misdemeanor charge of interfering with free speech after allegedly attacking Bay Area National Anarchists, including leader Andrew Yeoman, at a Saturday rally at Civic Center. more ›

People take part in a march to celebrate International Workers' Day and to protest Arizona's new controversial immigration law Saturday May 1, 2010 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jakub Mosur) more ›

Members of the Bay Area National Anarchists -- a group, according to SF Weekly that "believes in white separatism and which supports the controversial Arizona anti-immigrant law" -- were physically attacked during Saturday's May Day rally at Civic Center Plaza. BANA founder Andrew Yeoman told the Weekly's Lauren Smiley that three members counter protesting on the sidewalk in front of City Hall were "attacked with mace, punches, kicks, and shoves as they left the immigration reform rally on Saturday." more ›

In the continuing saga of West and East: Civil War 2.0, Arizona immigrant law supporters have called for a boycott of California -- which is downright impossible; like God, the Golden State is everywhere, it is omnipotent -- and San Francisco. more ›

Oakland will join San Francisco in boycotting Arizona over anti-immigration/anti-illegal alien law SB 1070. Oakland Council President Jane Brunner, Vice Mayor Jean Quan and Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente will "join clergy members and other local residents on the steps of Oakland City Hall Thursday to announce the resolution." [via KTVU] more ›

Oh dear. Here we go. City workers are banned from traveling to Arizona for official work. SF Gate reports: "San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today a moratorium on official city travel to Arizona after the state enacted a controversial new immigration law that directs local police to arrest those suspected of being in the country illegally." Unless, among other exceptions, law enforcement needs to travel to AZ for crime investigation. Oh, and this rule goes into effect immediately. [via SFGate] more ›

We had a pleasant tête-à-tête yesterday in the comments of SFist's "SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera Calls for Arizona Boycott" post. The quest to be right on the internet was, as expected, just as normal as any other day. Kudos to you, readers. more ›

San Francisco’s City Attorney Dennis Herrera has called for a boycott of Arizona over the state's new (and frightening) immigration law (SB 1070) which was signed by Governor Jan Brewer on Friday. In a written statement, Herrera said: more ›

Honoring the 100-year anniversary of the Angel Island Immigration Station, the California State Parks, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services threw a party in San Francisco this morning, complete with "a slideshow of historic photos, comments by dignitaries, recognition to detainees who once lived there and the swearing in of 100 new immigrants who took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became U.S. citizens." more ›

After allegedly being beaten, sexually assaulted, threatened by a Guatemalan congressman, and chronically harassed by Guatemalan police, gay Bay Area resident Saul Martinez fled to the United States in 1992. Now, after years of living in the U.S., the Feds are trying to send him back to his country of origin. According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights: more ›

Alleged member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gang Edwin Ramos, 21, pleaded not guilty in the noontime shooting deaths of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16. Ramos, if you recall, was here as an illegal immigrant and also committed two felonies - an assault of a Muni passenger and the attempted robbery of a pregnant lady - but was not, according to the Chronicle, "surrendered by San Francisco juvenile justice authorities to federal officials for possible deportation," but nevertheless released from jail even though he was tagged as an illegal immigrant. Ramos, it seems, was "awaiting deportation proceedings" at the time of the murders. He returns to court next Wednesday. more ›

Yesterday, Mayor Newsom signed into action the Tommy Ammiano-introduced legislation that requires the city to handout ID cards to undocumented immigrants and other residents who either can't or just won't apply for driver's licenses. The good news is that these IDs will help (formerly) undocumented residents gain access to the wonderful world of banking, a sense of peace before calling the fuzz, as well as "health services at city-run clinics, public library privileges, and resident discounts at museums and other cultural institutions." (Entry fee discounts at the Exploratorium: the American dream realized.) more ›

San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved municipal ID cards to SF inhabitants yesterday. These (hopefully adorable) new cards can be used by anyone here, it seems -- U.S. resident or not. Tommy Ammiano introduced the legislation, which, according to the Chronicle, "would require companies holding city contracts to accept the municipal card as a legitimate form of identification." (So does that mean they can be used to get into bars? Sweet.) more ›

With Ed Jew out of the picture for now, the SF Board of Supes wasted little time in unanimously approving a resolution tsk-tsking The Savage Nation host Michael Savage for his "[l]et them fast until they starve to death; then that solves the problem" (it sure helps us remain in control!) comment he made about students fasting in regard to an immigration reform bill last July. more ›

Thank goodness the Department of Homeland Security's on top of all the threats to American freedom -- the New York Times today profiles Nalini Ghuman (at right), a British musicologist and assistant professor at Mills College who hasn't been able to get back to Oakland to teach her classes and work on her book about composer Edward Elgar, because Immigration and Customs refuses to let her back in the country. more ›

Tom Ammiano announced a plan yesterday to give city IDs to those who don't have IDs, mainly immigrants-- legal or otherwise. The idea, pushed by immigrant advocates, will allow those without an ID to be given access to a whole range of city services they would not normally be open to, including health care, library privileges, and the ability to use municipal golf courses. Ammiano also said he's going to work with financial institutions to let people use the Ids to open accounts. more ›

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. more ›

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take her medicine and offered their own suggestions to how the city should capitalize on the local music scene. And everyone thinks that a suggested tax on bottled water is a great idea. more ›

After Supervisor Sandoval introduced a resolution to brand hyperbolic grandpa Michael Savage as a hate speech-spewing loon, it wasn't voted on unanimously yesterday, care of SFsit's favorite coverboy, Ed Jew. (Ah, World Net Daily, where we go to get all of our fair and balanced news, drizzled with a infusion of organic Nazism.) On July 5, after Savage predictably asked that students undergoing a weeklong fast for immigration reform (and, bonus, to slim down... more ›

Notice of a Citizen Workshop for green card holders tomorrow more ›

With all the recent hoopla regarding national immigration legistlation, now might be a great time to get a perspective on immigration here close to home. We're not sure how many SFist readers are the "stay at home on Friday nights" type, but if you are, you might consider checking out KQED Channel 9 at 8:30 p.m. on June 29 more ›

Well, you could either go to Carnaval this weekend -- or you could go to the State Green Party Convention. Ross Mirkarimi (seen here going into the dunk tank) is giving the keynote address, and the delegates plan to debate issues like ranked-choice voting, lowering the voting age to 17, and immigration. They may also get to issues about global warming. The convention starts at 11:30 a.m., goes through the Memorial Day weekend and is mostly at the State Building at 455 Golden Gate (x Larkin), though if you make it through all the sessions, they're doing a hike in Muir Woods on Monday. You have to pay to go, but the cost is, mysteriously, not listed on the website. more ›