Local outrage has been sparked following the detention of a San Francisco drag performer known as Hilary Rivers after his asylum hearing in an immigration court. Rivers, an immigrant from Central America, was arrested by ICE as he was leaving the courthouse, despite his ongoing compliance with U.S. law regarding his right to remain in the country while his asylum claim is pending. The legal director of the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative, Milli Atkinson, criticized the events, per the San Francisco Chronicle, as a "complete, flagrant violation of what our asylum system was built on."
Community advocates and supporters quickly mobilized for Rivers, who had performed at the Miss & Mr. Safe Latino 2025 Pageant only the night before his detainment, a fixture in the local LGBTQ+ Latinx community. The 30th annual event was held to promote health and wellness. This development came amid increased courthouse arrests, a new practice under the Trump administration, leading to a "real panic" among the undocumented immigrant community, and now the whereabouts of Rivers following his scheduled immigration appointment remain unknown, this has stirred emotions compounded by the timing of his detention during Pride Week which he had just celebrated as part of his queer identity.
Further details shared by 48 Hills show the community's immediate response, with local activist Persia expressing the urgency of locating Rivers and ensuring his safety. Ani Rivera of Galería de la Raza added that efforts were being made to get in touch with him to safeguard his confidentiality and well-being, stating, "Right now, we want to locate him so that he can make the decision about how his information is shared," and "We also want to make sure he is safe and has any necessary medications or items."
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