Local groups urge the San Antonio City Council to hold an oversight hearing into SAPD’s involvement and the impact on local residents.
November 19, 2025
(San Antonio, Texas)–San Antonio Stands (SA Stands) is appalled and outraged that the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) worked in tandem with several federal enforcement agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to terrorize our neighbors, detaining 150 San Antonians. This is the largest enforcement raid San Antonio has seen to date.
SA Stands, our partners, and allies condemn the continued violence impacting our communities as a result of these shameful collaborations between local law enforcement and other federal agencies.
SA Stands strongly disavows the racist stereotypes which are being used as tools to dehumanize our migrant neighbors, specifically our Venezuelan communities who find themselves as the main targets of the current immigration inquisition. The reality is that as of now, any ties to Tren de Aragua are merely speculation by law enforcement.
This administration has repeatedly attempted to broadly label Venezuelans as members of Tren de Aragua, a narrative that local police departments in Texas have dangerously embraced. However, the administration’s claims have continued to be proven unfounded. Cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s highlight the risks of blanket scapegoating— allegations remain unproven, with no solid evidence of gang involvement.
In a prior Hays County raid, criminal charges against those accused of being involved in gang activity were dropped, yet raids continue to put communities at risk. We are deeply concerned about how many wrongful or discriminatory detentions will result from these actions in San Antonio.
The San Antonio raid on November 16, 2025, shows exactly why San Antonio residents deserve answers. We demand the City Council’s Public Safety Committee hold an oversight hearing on SAPD’s role in this operation, and we urge the community to email and call their council members now to demand transparency and accountability.
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SA Stands is a strong non-partisan collaborative of 18 organizations in the city of San Antonio and Bexar County that works through organized campaigns, advocacy efforts, community education, and direct action, to mobilize against any laws and efforts that criminalize, incarcerate, deport and divide our communities. For more information visit https://sastands.info/