San Francisco's Ankle Monitor Program Halted Amid Fentanyl Crisis, Intensifying Deportation Debate

San Francisco's pre-trial ankle monitoring program for criminal defendants has been placed on an indefinite hold, sparking significant public safety concerns amidst the city's ongoing fentanyl crisis. The suspension, enacted in October 2024, means the San Francisco Sheriff's Department is no longer issuing new ankle monitors, impacting hundreds of individuals awaiting trial. This development coincides with increased scrutiny from public figures and residents regarding the efficacy of current policies, particularly concerning drug dealers.

The Sheriff's Department paused the program following a federal judge's ruling that challenged the legality of requiring warrantless searches as a condition for wearing an ankle monitor. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto indicated that the department could not safely operate the program without this provision. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins voiced concerns that this decision might necessitate more incarcerations, noting that a "large degree of our fentanyl dealers" have previously been monitored this way.

Mayor Daniel Lurie, who assumed office in January 2025, has consistently advocated for robust electronic monitoring to prevent drug dealers from operating in high-trafficking zones. He previously proposed implementing ankle monitors with "stay away orders, and a search condition" to enable law enforcement to track individuals and respond to violations. The current program halt complicates these proposed strategies for managing the drug crisis.

The controversy gained further traction following a public critique from Susan Dyer Reynolds, who directly challenged city leadership on social media. "So @DanielLurie @SFDAOffice what good is arresting drug dealers if they’re released on an ankle monitor and @war24182236 gets video of them selling fentanyl while wearing that ankle monitor?" Reynolds stated in her tweet. She further pressed, "Why are you not turning her over to @ICEgov for deportation?" highlighting public frustration with perceived policy loopholes.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office has, in recent years, adopted stricter measures against fentanyl dealers, including revoking misdemeanor plea offers and seeking pre-trial detention in severe cases. However, the call for the deportation of undocumented drug dealers, as voiced in the tweet, navigates complex legal and political terrain within San Francisco's established sanctuary city policies. While some city supervisors have explored modifying these laws for fentanyl-related offenses, civil liberties advocates argue such changes could negatively impact immigrant communities.