Photo: Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle

Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer

Occupy Oakland protesters held a rally today in support of a veteran East Bay activist who faces possible deportation to Mexico after being arrested during Monday’s police sweep of the movement’s encampment outside City Hall.

Records show that 36-year-old Francisco “Pancho” Ramos Stierle of Oakland is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin because of a federal immigration hold.

Footage of the early morning police raid shows Stierle being arrested while meditating and refusing to leave Frank Ogawa Plaza. He was one of 32 people arrested during the sweep.

Records show that Stierle was booked into jail on suspicion of two misdemeanors, refusing to disperse and loitering. Those charges would carry a $10,000 bail if not for the immigration hold.

Alameda County sheriff’s Sgt. J.D. Nelson, a spokesman for the jail, said his agency had no control over federal immigration holds. “We don’t make that decision,” he said.

Federal immigration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Stierle describes himself online as a human rights activist who came to the United States about six years ago to study astrophysics at UC Berkeley but dropped out after two years because he opposed nuclear weapons development.

About 50 Occupy protesters held a rally at noon at Seventh and Clay streets outside a downtown Oakland jail, although records show Stierle is not there.

E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa@sfchronicle.com.

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