{"id":12161,"date":"2025-10-19T02:15:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T02:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/12161\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T02:15:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T02:15:13","slug":"thousands-of-people-rail-against-ice-raids-other-federal-policies-in-orange-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/12161\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands of People Rail Against ICE Raids, Other Federal Policies in Orange County"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of Orange County residents loudly railed against federal deportation raids, and scores of other national policies at various protests on Saturday \u2013 with many decrying what they say is an increasingly hostile federal government.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The flagship protest was held in Santa Ana\u2019s Centennial Park, the second round of \u201cNo Kings\u201d demonstrations in OC as part of a network of thousands of rallies held across the country on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters chant while walking along Fairview Street during the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Other protests were held in Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, La Habra and Orange, according to a social media post from organizers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first round of \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests were held in June, not long after the ICE raids kicked off in Southern California.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Read: Orange County Hits the Streets, Rails Against ICE Sweeps<\/a>]\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re trying to label us as un-American \u2013 as doing something that hates our country and that is nothing further from the truth,\u201d Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said to protestors on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Thousands were in attendance at the Oct. 18, 2025, \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally in Santa Ana. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure people aren\u2019t disappeared just because they\u2019re day laborers and landscapers and domestic workers trying to make a living,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sarmiento, a former Santa Ana mayor, said it\u2019s time for people to take a stand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the inflection point, this is the moment, this is the line in the sand where we have to say enough,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was that adage, when they go low we go high. I\u2019m going to change it \u2013 when they go low, we go toe to toe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"From left, Sue Dong, and her husband, Lee Chan, both Chinese immigrants, attend the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. \u201cWe are here because we need to stand up,\u201d says Dong. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

In an email Saturday afternoon, Santa Ana Police Officer and department spokeswoman Natalie Garcia said city officials estimated 3,000 people were at the protest and no arrests were made as of roughly 4 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No estimates of crowd size were available from organizers as of 6 p.m. Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Organizers for the large \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest in Anaheim estimated between 12,000 and 15,000 people showed up for the June demonstration while city officials estimated 3,000 people were present.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters chant while walking along Edinger Ave. during the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s protest was organized by Women for American Values and Ethics, the OC Indivisible Coalition and 50501 Orange County.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OC Rapid Response Network Program Director Sandra De Anda said deportation sweeps have decreased since federal agents began focusing efforts in other parts of the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not as bad, but people are still disappearing,\u201d De Anda said in an interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the deportation raids were a large focus of Saturday\u2019s protest, organizers and community groups was also focused on the upcoming election on Proposition 50.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

The Nov. 4 ballot measure is asking California voters if they want to temporarily redraw Congressional districts to favor Democrats as a response to redistricting efforts to benefit Republicans in states like Texas.<\/p>\n

Assemblyman Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim), who also represents Santa Ana, said the November vote will be the most important vote that he will make.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will be the significant vote I believe I\u2019ve taken and will take as an elected official at the state level,\u201d Valencia told the crowd on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The deportation raids have pushed some Orange County cities to set up relief efforts and legal defense funds for impacted residents \u2013 while also raising questions from city council members over whether such efforts could jeopardize critical federal funding.<\/p>\n

\"\"Lucila Contreras, 87, attends the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Next week, Fullerton City Council members are expected to consider launching an immigrant legal aid fund while Santa Ana City Council members are slated to debate whether or not to continue their immigrant aid program for families impacted by the ICE raids.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an interview, Valencia said city officials have to do a balancing act of sorts when it comes to providing immigration aid funds and notifications \u2013 noting Anaheim\u2019s daily public ICE raid updates and various forms of immigrant aid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope would be for everybody to be as vocal and push as much as they possibly can within their capabilities,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the fact that I come from Anaheim and Anaheim is leading the charge here in the county with those efforts. But I also understand the concern that a lot of communities have when it comes to the funding that is being pulled daily.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters attend the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

He also noted that in November, $1.5 million in immigrant legal defense aid is coming from the state \u2013 a product of a roundtable discussion of various community leaders over the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Read: Orange County Feels Economic Fallout of ICE Raids<\/a>]<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters attend the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

In contrast to the heavy protests up north, the closure of the 5 freeway near Camp Pendleton due to a live fire exercise impacted some protesters in the area.<\/p>\n

\"\"The 5 Freeway barren on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Stephanie Smith stood alone at the 5 overpass at Calefia and said there were plans for a protest there as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to stand up for all the freedoms we have in the United States and make sure that we keep them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"San Clemente resident, Stephanie Smith, 57 holding up a protest sign at the 5 overpass at Calefia on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters attend the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters chant while walking along Fairview Street during the \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Maximo Santana and Julie Leopo contributed to this story.<\/p>\n

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