The Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) is vowing to protect undocumented immigrant restaurant workers and their customers in San Francisco.
Joined by immigration lawyers and Assemblyman David Chiu on Friday, the GGRA announced the Sanctuary Restaurant Program, their addition to a movement of the same name.
Teaming up with the civil rights legal community, GGRA will provide training for business owners and their employees on how to interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and law enforcement at home and in the workplace.
GGRA Executive Director Gwyneth Borden said the restaurant industry contributes greatly to San Francisco’s economy, representing over 60,000 workers and 50 percent of the retail sales tax. She said the immigrant community is the backbone of the industry.
“The reason our city is so vibrant is because we have such diverse cultures and people that are part of our restaurants,” Bowden said. “We want our restaurants to be able to stand up for their workers, know how to protect their workers and articulate to the world why all this matters.”