Southern California ICE protest turns violent amid nationwide uproar

KTLA sought comment from the Department of Homeland Security prior to publication, but did not receive a response. This story will be updated when officials provide a statement.

A protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity turned violent in Orange County Friday night.

Preliminary reports indicate the demonstration took place near the Federal Building in downtown Santa Ana, located in the Orange County Civic Center. The building houses ICE field offices.

Footage obtained by KTLA shows Department of Homeland Security officers advancing towards the group of protesters before taking two men from the crowd by force. They fired what appeared to be pepper balls or rubber bullets at the crowd.

One of the protesters appeared to have been struck in the face as he was dragged away from the group by an officer who tripped on a traffic cone. The officer immediately got back up and continued dragging the protester into a nearby building.

Orange County grandfather injured while resisting ICE; family says agent ‘messed up’

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was formally arrested or charged in relation to Friday night’s demonstration.

KTLA has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the incident but did not receive a response prior to publication.

Video shows Southern California ICE protest turn violent amid nationwide uproar. Jan. 9, 2026. (OC Hawk)

The protests in Santa Ana were part of a larger nationwide wave of protests over immigration enforcement activity sparked by the fatal federal officer-involved shooting of a woman in Minneapolis and another federal officer-involved shooting in Portland that left two wounded.

The victim of the Minneapolis shooting was identified as 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good; the two people shot in Portland by a Customs and Border Patrol officer were a man and woman with ties to Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua gang, officials say.

Members of President Donald Trump’s administration have publicly stated that both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles to attack officers.

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Southern California ICE protest turns violent amid nationwide uproar

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