Santa Ana, Calif. – A wave of tension hit Santa Ana on Monday night after hundreds of residents clashed with law enforcement during a protest against morning immigration raids.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carried out targeted operations across the county seat of Orange County, home to more than 300,000 people. By evening, roughly 200 demonstrators had gathered outside the federal building downtown, where ICE and other federal offices are housed.
Protesters waved flags and held signs denouncing what they saw as an assault on day laborers. Tensions boiled over when federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets into the crowd. Volunteer nurse Maria (last name withheld) treated multiple injuries, from gas exposure to bruises, after protesters were struck by rubber pellets.
“We were just standing there,” said 23-year-old Dylan Carranca, recalling the moment tear gas canisters landed around him. He added that the pain in his eyes lasted for hours after fleeing the scene.
The Santa Ana Police Department confirmed that federal officers requested backup, claiming they were at risk of being overrun. Councilmember Jessie Lopez, who witnessed the scene, called that claim a lie and defended residents’ right to protest peacefully.
This local flare-up echoes a broader national debate over immigration enforcement and community trust, as cities across the U.S. grapple with similar tensions.
The unrest follows a controversial order by the Trump administration to deploy U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in support of intensified ICE operations across Southern California. Officials say about 700 Marines were set to arrive as federal authorities face growing demonstrations over immigration enforcement.
As arrests were made for alleged offenses such as throwing objects and setting off fireworks, community leaders warn the heavy-handed tactics risk further eroding trust between residents and law enforcement. With both sides digging in, Orange County braces for more protests in the days ahead.
Reference(s):
Immigration raids in California set off clashes in Orange County
cgtn.com
