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Immigration Rights Activists Arrested After Blocking Streets Next To San Francisco ICE Offices

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- More than a dozen immigrant rights advocates have chained themselves together in San Francisco's Financial District Tuesday morning to protest what they say are cruel raids by federal authorities on Central American refugees.

Ten protesters began blocking Sansome and Washington streets and six others were blocking Sansome and Jackson streets shortly after 10 a.m.  and remained there an hour later.

The demonstrators along with dozens of supporters were protesting against what they say are cruel raids by federal authorities on Central American refugees.

Immigrants' rights activists block traffic at San Francisco ICE/INS offices on Sansome St. http://cbsloc.al/1QzPtaa

Posted by KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The protest was contributing to already congested traffic in downtown San Francisco as police were brought in to direct traffic around the activists.

The protest was part of a statewide day of action, including a similar rally in Los Angeles, held by groups including the Immigration Youth Coalition, the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance and other immigrant rights organizations.

Sansome protest
ICE office protest on Sansome Street (CBS)

About 200 people were at the San Francisco rally Tuesay morning to call on ICE officials to recognize Central American asylum seekers as refugees and stop what they say are inhumane deportations.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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