Immigration raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Santa Ana, Orange County, triggered violent clashes Monday night between protesters and federal and local law enforcement, leaving several people injured and multiple people arrested.
The city of Santa Ana, located about 50 km east of Los Angeles, witnessed intense unrest after ICE allegedly targeted day laborers during broad daylight operations across the region, a city known for its large immigrant population.
Escalation Outside Federal Building
By evening, over 200 demonstrators gathered outside a federal building in downtown Santa Ana, which houses ICE and other U.S. federal offices, waving flags and holding signs in protest.
According to eyewitnesses and local media reports, the demonstration escalated when law enforcement deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper balls into the crowd.
“We were just standing there. I didn’t see anything thrown from our side. Then all of a sudden, three canisters landed — one on the right, one in the middle, and one on the left. I ran,” said Dylan Carranca, a 23-year-old protester from Fullerton, whose eyes were visibly affected by the gas.
A volunteer nurse on-site confirmed to City News Service that multiple individuals were treated for injuries, including those caused by rubber bullets fired by law enforcement.
Contradictory Accounts from Officials
The Santa Ana Police Department acknowledged the use of force, stating that the action came after a direct request from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who claimed that federal agents were being overrun at the building.
But Santa Ana City Council member Jessie Lopez, who was present during the protest, challenged that narrative:
“Overrun? That’s a lie,” she told Voice of OC.
Lopez also revealed that Santa Ana’s jail facilities were used to detain individuals arrested during related protests over the weekend in Los Angeles, as part of a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to hold federal defendants.
Arrests and Ongoing Tensions
Local media reported several arrests, with charges including setting off fireworks and throwing objects at officers. Authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of injuries or the number of those detained.
Broader Context
The incident comes amid rising tensions in the U.S. over immigration enforcement, particularly in Southern California, a region with deep immigrant roots and frequent protests against ICE policies.
International observers and human rights organizations are likely to monitor the aftermath of this clash closely, especially given the reports of force used against civilians during a protest over humanitarian concerns.
–Input IANS
