66-Year-Old Russian Nanny Detained Then Released by ICE in Diamond Heights

Federal immigration agents detained a 66-year-old Russian woman described as a nanny in the Diamond Heights neighborhood as she arrived for work Friday, raising questions about enforcement practices in San Francisco neighborhoods and prompting official and legal responses.

Neighbors reported unmarked vehicles followed the woman through Diamond Heights, a residential area between Noe Valley and Glen Park. After she parked and stepped out of her car, vehicles reportedly blocked the driveway and agents exited, saying they were looking for “a person in the area.” “When asked, agents did not present a warrant or show identification,” the Rapid Response Network reported on social media. The employer on scene asked the agents for a warrant; attorney Ghassan Shamieh said the agents refused to provide paperwork or identify themselves.

The woman was handcuffed and taken into federal custody, according to attorneys working the case. Attorney Ghassan Shamieh said he learned of the arrest just three hours after his wife gave birth to their third child; because Shamieh was at the hospital, his colleague Kate Ruston went to 630 Sansome St., the downtown immigration court, to try to speak with the detained woman. Mission Local reported that as of about 7 p.m. the woman remained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody en route to California City. Other accounts assert she was later freed after lawyers sought a federal judge's intervention; those claims have not been corroborated by court records or ICE at the time of this report.

Mayor Daniel Lurie said he was “aware” of the action and reaffirmed city policy separating local police from federal civil immigration enforcement. “In line with our city's longstanding policies, the San Francisco Police Department was not involved and does not assist with federal civil immigration enforcement,” Lurie said. “That will not change as long as I'm mayor. Everyone should feel safe reporting a crime, seeking help, or accessing services - regardless of immigration status.” San Francisco sanctuary policy prevents SFPD from assisting federal civil immigration actions, but it does not stop federal agents from operating inside city limits.

Rapid Response Network, a collaboration between local immigrant-rights groups that maintains a 24-hour ICE-tracking hotline, originated the alert and circulated details to local advocates and media. ICE did not provide a response to requests for comment or verification of the arrest when asked by local attorneys and reporters.

The episode underscores several unresolved questions that matter to San Francisco residents: whether a warrant or court order authorized the detention, whether federal practice in the city is shifting toward more neighborhood enforcement, and where the detained woman is currently held or whether a judge ordered release. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman urged caution in reacting to the initial reports as advocates and legal counsel seek documentation.

For residents, the immediate significance is practical and civic: sanctuary policy protects against local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement, but it does not insulate city neighborhoods from federal operations. Community members concerned about immigration enforcement can contact local immigrant-rights legal networks and the Rapid Response Network hotline for guidance and to report incidents. Journalists, attorneys, and advocates will be seeking ICE custody logs, federal court filings, and statements from the attorneys involved to clarify whether the woman remains detained or was released and under what terms.