California Rep. Sarah Jacobs Protests Deportation Measures
California Representative Sarah Jacobs, a Democrat, voiced her dissent against the deportation of undocumented immigrants while dining at an Italian restaurant over the weekend.
Jacobs, who has served three terms and is tied to a San Diego-based company, made her stance clear following an incident on May 30 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained several restaurant workers without legal status at a well-known Italian eatery. Her choice to protest federal immigration enforcement by sharing a photo of herself with a wooden pizza and white wine, while dining in San Diego, was met with swift criticism, particularly regarding the Democratic Party’s preference for low-cost labor from undocumented workers.
“We enjoyed dinner at Buona Forchetta, a place that endured the raid where agents employed flashbangs to arrest workers, not actual criminals. We will stand by the immigrant community,” Jacobs stated.
Our responses to these migrant raids define us. I was proud to dine at Buona Forchetta as a show of support during the aftermath of the raid. pic.twitter.com/l6bfgiu7t8
– Councillor Sara Jacobs (@Repsarajacobs) June 8, 2025
Critics of Jacobs’ stance surfaced as protests erupted in Los Angeles over the same weekend, triggered by ICE operations in sanctuary areas. Jacobs specifically criticized former President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy a National Guard unit in the city to safeguard ICE agents conducting deportation activities, describing the move as “unnecessary escalation.”
In light of her actions, Trump administration officials and conservative commentators accused Jacobs of attempting to virtue signal by showcasing her visit to an Italian restaurant reputed to hire undocumented workers.
“Sarah Jacobs, a millionaire, is advocating for cheaper labor from illegal immigrants instead of supporting better wages for American workers,” one critic remarked on social media, highlighting Jacobs’ connection to the issue.
You’re enjoying a beautiful Italian meal while others are struggling. pic.twitter.com/m7qkfztole
– Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) June 9, 2025
Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, labeled House Democrats as “corrupted elitists,” referring to Jacobs’ decision to dine at high-end Italian establishments.
One social media user questioned, “What kind of wine pairing comes with virtue signaling?”
Particularly, in January, San Diego Congressman voted “No” on the Laken Riley Act, a bipartisan legislation signed into law by Trump that authorized federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants charged with various criminal offenses.
Jacobs’ defense of undocumented workers has led to backlash, accentuated by claims made by Democratic Representative Becca Ballint from Vermont on May 29, suggesting that stringent deportation efforts would leave essential services lacking.
A spokesperson for Jacobs did not respond promptly to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
