DPH director reiterates sanctuary compliance, announces encampment medical team and UCSF research lease

Director Garcia opened the commission's director's report by welcoming nursing students from San Francisco State and describing recent department activities. She said DPH has adopted an internal policy on interactions with immigration enforcement and stressed that the department will continue to provide services regardless of immigration or documentation status in compliance with the city's sanctuary ordinance.

"We do have a policy on immigration status and interaction with immigration customs enforcement agency agents... to comply with the San Francisco Sanctuary City Ordinance," Garcia said, adding the policy limits use of city funds or resources to assist ICE except when mandated by federal or state law or court order.

Garcia also reported the signing of the lease for the UCSF research building at Zuckerberg and thanked the department's foundation and community partners for successful fundraising efforts such as the recent Heroes and Hearts event. She announced creation of a medical street team to visit encampments, provide addiction medicine linkage and bridge individuals to DPH primary care centers, coordinated with the Department's encampment resolution team.

Commissioners praised the outreach and partnerships, highlighted long'time staff and volunteer contributions to hospital and clinic services, and asked staff to circulate the sanctuary policy link for commissioners to review. No public comment was recorded on the director's report.

Next steps: staff will provide the requested policy link and continue updates on encampment outreach and the UCSF research lease.