ICE Immigration Raids In Orange County Prompt Large Protest, Arrests

SANTA ANA, CA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted immigration sweeps in Orange County Monday, leading to violent protests in Santa Ana, authorities said.

The raids started Monday in Santa Ana and were reported at a Carl's Jr on Edinger Avenue, a fabric plant on S. Garnsey Street and Home Depots on McFadden and Edinger, according to OC Rapid Response.

In response to the immigration actions, a group of hundreds of protestors gathered in Santa Ana near the federal building.

Police declared an unlawful assembly at around 8:30 p.m. Monday as some protesters continued to hurl fireworks and objects including bottle rockets at local and federal authorities, who responded with tear gas and other crowd-control weapons.

The exact number of arrests was unclear Monday evening.

"The situation has escalated, and what began as a lawful assembly around the Civic Center Plaza, has escalated into objects being thrown towards officers and other members of the public, posing a risk to public safety, property, and the well-being of our community," the city of Santa Ana said in a post on X at about 9 p.m.

"In response, federal agents have deployed less-lethal ammunition, including tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets."

Several people were arrested near the federal building after a day-long protest against immigration raids in the city Monday turned violent.

The exact number of arrests was unclear Monday evening. The alleged crimes included setting off fireworks and throwing objects at officers.

A woman who said she was a nurse volunteering at the scene told City News Service that multiple people were treated for injuries suffered when law enforcement fired rubber bullets at the crowd.

Earlier, about 200 activists waving flags and carrying signs congregated around Santa Ana Boulevard and Flower Street, chanting slogans such as "No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA" to protest the Trump administration's recent immigration enforcement actions in Southern California, which included raids in Santa Ana on Monday.

According to local authorities, the Santa Ana Police Department will not participate in the immigration enforcement efforts.

"We are aware that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently conducting immigration enforcement actions in the City of Santa Ana," a Santa Ana Police Department statement read. "We acknowledge that this news causes fear and uncertainty to many in our community."

"Your City Council and City Leadership are committed to upholding the rights, dignity and safety of every resident," the statement read.

It was not immediately clear if any residents were detained in the raids.

Residents with questions or concerns were urged to contact their local congressional office and visit the City of Santa Ana's Know Your Rights webpage at https://www.santa-ana.org/kyr.

Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, said Monday's raids prompted him to head back to the airport to return to Orange County from Washington D.C.

Correa claimed that many residents who are complying with the law and attending removal hearings were getting re-arrested despite having their cases dismissed by an immigration judge.

"What's going on is they're coming in for their removal cases and in many cases the judges are dismissing removal cases and then they immediately turn around and put them back in custody in an expedited removal process," Correa said.

Correa said he returned to Santa Ana on Sunday and toured immigration services.

"I was there Sunday. I was down at the Civic Center," Correa said. "It was boring. It was quiet. That's the way we like Santa Ana -- boring and quiet."

When he checked on immigration services, "They weren't near capacity. The detainees are being treated well. And I actually saw the Mexican consulate there doing interviews with those in custody. They were all respectful and the federal agents all respectful. And I left today. I got to Washington, D.C., a few hours ago and my phone is ringing off the hook. I'm getting bombarded.

"The best I can figure is this administration is not meeting their deportation numbers and they're not even close to meeting them and they're going Defcon Three and doing everything they can to deport people," Correa said.

Correa implored protesters to stay peaceful, saying acts of violence could backfire in getting the general public to support their cause.

"You want to get your message across and affect change, but do it smart," Correa said. "Gandhi, Martin Luther King -- lawful peaceful protest. You don't take on an (assault rifle) or Glock. It doesn't work. Continue to show your displeasure, your anger, your First Amendment rights, but do it within the law and do it peacefully."

The Orange County demonstration comes after thousands of protesters amassed in downtown Los Angeles for the fourth day in a row Monday in opposition to federal immigration raids carried out across the area, while hundreds of U.S. Marines were deployed to the city to assist National Guard troops protecting federal facilities, and hundreds more law enforcement officers were summoned to help quell any potential violence.

U.S. Northern Command confirmed Monday that about 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in Twentynine Palms east of Los Angeles "will seamlessly integrate" with federalized National Guard troops that arrived Sunday to help protect federal facilities and personnel.

The Marine deployment will ensure there are "adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency," according to U.S. Northern Command.

The Marine deployment will ensure there are "adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency," according to U.S. Northern Command.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, announced that hundreds of state and regional law enforcement officers were being shifted into the area to support the Los Angeles Police Department and county Sheriff's Department to quell potential unruly protests.

According to Newsom's office, nearly 400 California Highway Patrol officers will be deployed in Los Angeles in support of the LAPD. The CHP also issued a tactical alert, moving more than 250 other officers additional officers into the area to assist with road and highway safety.

Another 240 officers will also be moving into the area from sheriff's departments in San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and from police departments within Los Angeles County.

RELATED: Immigration Raids, Protests Spread Across Southland

The news came as thousands of protesters gathered Monday afternoon in Downtown Los Angeles, prompting police to declare the assembly unlawful.

Law enforcement officers were maintaining a major presence, in some cases preventing protesters from marching along certain streets and setting up skirmish lines to block access to freeway on-ramps.

The LAPD again declared a tactical alert, allowing it to keep officers on duty beyond their normal shifts if needed to respond to growing protests.

City News Service contributed to this report.