Residents decry ICE raids, militarized policing as Santa Ana protests swell

Hundreds of residents filled the Santa Ana council chamber and the surrounding streets to protest recent immigration enforcement activity and the heavily armed federal and National Guard presence in the city.

Speakers described unmarked agents detaining neighbors and recalled tear gas and rubber projectiles fired at largely peaceful crowds. Many urged the council and mayor to demand that federal agents and the National Guard leave and to protect immigrant families.

The demonstrations began after a series of immigration enforcement actions in the city earlier in June. Protesters, neighborhood groups and nonprofit organizers told the council that ICE and other federal agents have conducted raids at workplaces and in neighborhoods, often in unmarked vehicles and without visible identification. Multiple speakers said residents are afraid to shop, go to work or let children attend summer programs.

“San­ta Ana promised a sanctuary, but what we’re living in right now, this isn’t sanctuary,” said Bulmaro Vicente, political and policy director of Chispa, who described seeing tear gas and what he called coordinated action between federal agents and local police. “SAPD says they won’t enforce ICE raids, but they’ll…