by David Smollar / Times of San Diego / Jan. 26, 2026The wielding of excessive force bringing chaos, injury and death across American cities by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes for painful viewing when captured by social media. They feared an increase in the number of union members coming to San Diego to organize streetcar and construction workers — many of whom were immigrants — and to back radical factions in the ongoing Mexican Revolution. At the time of the council action, the local IWW chapter had merely 50 members. While much state and national criticism ensued against San Diego politicians and police, and a special representative of California Gov. Hiram Johnson held hearings in the city court house in late April, no one was ever prosecuted for the actions.