{"id":311703,"date":"2026-05-12T08:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T08:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/311703\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T08:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T08:24:19","slug":"many-orange-county-cities-stay-silent-on-ice-raids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/311703\/","title":{"rendered":"Many Orange County Cities Stay Silent on ICE Raids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elected officials in most Orange County cities have not taken official action to respond to widespread deportation sweeps, while a few have taken strong stances either in support of immigrants or in support of federal agents.<\/p>\n

The silence comes after some residents demanded elected officials in a handful of cities throughout last year to stand up for their immigrant neighbors and provide resources.<\/p>\n

Others have asked their council members to stay out of it, arguing immigration is a federal issue.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Editors\u2019 Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service<\/a>, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact admin@voiceofoc.org.<\/p>\n

Sandra De Anda, director of policy for the Orange County Rapid Response Network, said the lack of response from most city councils is not surprising.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe still have a lot of anti-immigrant sentiment in this county and throughout each city,\u201d De Anda said. \u201cThere are very few cities to even have policies with the word immigrant in them throughout all of Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Sandra De Anda, center, director of policy for the Orange County Rapid Response Network, joins elected state and local leaders during a vigil for Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by federal officers. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Over the past couple months, Chapman students have investigated what cities in Orange County have done in response to large-scale immigration crackdown that ramped up last June, filing public records with each of the 34 cities to see what they implemented.<\/p>\n

Anaheim<\/a>, Santa Ana<\/a>, Costa Mesa<\/a> and Irvine<\/a> have provided informational resources on their websites, and launched funds to either help impacted immigrant families with legal support or to help them pay bills.<\/p>\n

Anaheim<\/a> is the only city in Orange County to post detailed daily updates on immigration enforcement actions in the city, while Santa Ana remains the only sanctuary city in the county.<\/p>\n

[Read: Anaheim Leads the Way on ICE Raids Response<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Garden Grove<\/a>, Mission Viejo<\/a>, Buena Park<\/a>, Fullerton<\/a> and Stanton<\/a> have solely provided informational resources.<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach<\/a> has firmly supported immigration enforcement, declaring the city a \u201cnon-sanctuary city\u201d and saying they will help ICE if they come to town.<\/p>\n

The remaining 24 cities have done nothing official in the past year.<\/p>\n

Supporting Immigrants<\/p>\n

\"\"A woman follows an anti-ICE protest in Santa Ana on Jan. 30, 2026. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

De Anda said that Anaheim and Santa Ana have laid the blueprint for how to best help immigrant communities.<\/p>\n

Anaheim has an immigrant legal aid fund, and posts daily immigration enforcement updates on the city\u2019s website \u2014 the only municipality to do so. These mainly include activity within the city, but sometimes it will make note of enforcement in surrounding areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an ICE watcher, I appreciate Anaheim Contigo\u2019s daily enforcement updates,\u201d De Anda said.<\/p>\n

One update on April 2<\/a> mentioned both Santa Ana and Orange.<\/p>\n

\u201cWednesday saw reported vehicle sightings in Santa Ana and just over the city line in Orange along Lincoln Avenue, but no reported detainments. Tuesday was quiet after Monday when one person was detained outside his home in an incident of targeted enforcement in a neighborhood near Euclid Street and Cerritos Avenue. Monday\u2019s incident was the first confirmed incident in Anaheim in more than two weeks,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n

Santa Ana, which currently is the only sanctuary city in Orange County, has worked closely with OC Rapid Response Network to develop an aid fund that has received $400,000 in funding so far, and re-write U-Visa policy to make it easier for immigrants to be accepted into the program.<\/p>\n

The U-Visa program provides temporary legal status and work authorization for victims of certain crimes who offer to help law enforcement.<\/p>\n

\"\"Santa Ana community organizers protest outside the federal building in downtown Santa Ana on Jan. 19, 2026. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

De Anda said that the previous system focused more on prosecution and wasn\u2019t inclusive enough to give immigrants who had suffered access to proper avenues for legal residency or work. Many families were struggling to get through even the first hurdle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe policy, and the way it was interpreted, was more for prosecution rather than (an) impacted community member finding a sense of justice for themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was already being determined for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The policy changes \u2014 which took effect earlier this year \u2014 established a formal appeals process and will require police to provide detailed written explanations for visa denials.<\/p>\n

\"\"Anti-ICE Protestors gather outside the federal building in downtown Santa Ana on June 9, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Paul Eakins, a city spokesperson, said Santa Ana city officials have always made protecting immigrants a top priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, the Santa Ana City Council continued that leadership by taking several actions to provide financial and legal support to our residents and to fight the unjust actions of the federal government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Paul Eakins, Santa Ana spokesman, at the Santa Ana Chicano Festival at Centennial Park on Aug. 4, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

He said that Santa Ana was the first city to join a lawsuit<\/a> against former Homeland Security head Kristi Noem in an attempt to stop the federal government from conducting stops and raids without reasonable suspicion or probable cause based on race.<\/p>\n

A majority of Supreme Court Justices ruled in favor of the Trump administration\u2019s Homeland Security tactics and struck down a restraining order<\/a> that barred alleged racial profiling in immigration enforcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite any challenges with the federal government, Eakins said that Santa Ana officials will remain committed to every part of their community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe City of Santa Ana is committed to protecting the dignity, safety, and rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status,\u201d Eakins said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Community organizers from Resilience OC, Youth Organizing Group, Chamoy and the OC Rapid Response Network hold a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, outside the Costa Mesa City Council chambers, calling for immigrant and tenants\u2019 rights ahead of the council meeting. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Irvine<\/a> and Costa Mesa<\/a> also have set up community resource pages and funds to help families impacted by immigration raids.<\/p>\n

When Irvine city officials passed a resolution to create a $100,000 aid fund, Councilmember Betty Martinez-Franco, who helped to bring forward the proposal, said that the Latino community in the city was being threatened and needed the city\u2019s help.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s call it how it is. They are coming for Brown people who speak Spanish, who work for privileged people here in Irvine,\u201d she said at Irvine\u2019s Feb. 24 meeting.<\/p>\n

Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens said that helping immigrants was a matter of upholding access to justice, at the city\u2019s Sept. 9 meeting last year when officials created a $200,000 immigrant legal defense fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are arrested for committing a crime \u2014 even if it is a crime you committed, even if you intend to plead guilty for that crime and it could be a horrific crime \u2014 you get representation provided to you by the government,\u201d he said. \u201cThese folks that are being detained \u2026 they have none of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fullerton officials backed away<\/a> from launching an immigrant aid fund last year, with some elected leaders saying the city didn\u2019t have the money to offer such support as the city wrestles with a projected $13.7 million deficit.<\/p>\n

Garden Grove voted to reaffirm and promote the protection of due process for all citizens<\/a>, but that resolution did not change any actual policy within the city. After a lengthy public debate, city council members directed staff to slash many specific mentions of immigrants or immigration enforcement from the original proposal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Supporting ICE<\/p>\n

\"\"The Huntington Beach Pier on April 22, 2026. Credit: JAKE RANDAZZO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach and Aliso Viejo were the only cities to respond to public records requests with pro-ICE policies. Aliso Viejo referenced a 2018 council decision to speak out against California\u2019s sanctuary city laws, but didn\u2019t send any information from the past year.<\/p>\n

In Huntington Beach, the city council passed a non-sanctuary city policy<\/a> on Jan. 21, 2025 \u2013 the day after President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to provide the best safety for our citizens, plain and simple,\u201d said then-Mayor Pat Burns.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The policy states that police and city officials will be, \u201ccoordinating and communicating with federal law enforcement agencies and honoring ICE detainers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach sued the state over its California Values Act, which restricts law enforcement from using resources to help federal immigration enforcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Trump administration\u2019s Department of Justice backed Huntington Beach\u2019s lawsuit, but it ultimately was shot down.<\/p>\n

De Anda said that Huntington Beach\u2019s non-sanctuary city policy makes no sense because her work tracking immigration enforcement over the past year has shown little activity in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they are a bastion of conservatism, they refuse to acknowledge the humanity of non-citizens,\u201d De Anda said. \u201cThey just honestly look very silly because they\u2019re breaking the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huntington Beach city staff did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether or not police are following the city or state statute.<\/p>\n

Mayor Casey McKeon did not respond to multiple attempts through phone, text and email to contact him for comment.<\/p>\n

In Westminster, council member Amy Phan West wanted police to help ICE, although when she proposed it at a city council meeting<\/a>, the idea was shut down by all other council members.<\/p>\n

\"\"Beachgoers at Mariposa Beach in San Clemente on April 24, 2025. Credit: EFREM PLAWNER, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

San Clemente, which has not passed any official policy regarding ICE over the past year, does have a contract with the Department of Homeland Security allowing the placement of immigration cameras overlooking the coast \u2014 though they haven\u2019t been set up yet.<\/p>\n

The contract was approved<\/a> by the city council on Jan. 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mayor Rick Loeffler said the city\u2019s coastline has had problems with illegal immigration, and that the deal with Homeland Security is meant to catch potential drug smuggling on boats.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that there\u2019s a connection between cartels and Panga boat incursions. They\u2019re bringing in drugs and we were concerned,\u201d he said in an interview. \u201cBorder patrol was interested in a maritime camera where they could view boats before they got to the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cities Staying Silent<\/p>\n

Many cities have avoided officially taking a stance or making resources available.<\/p>\n

Loeffler said that San Clemente hasn\u2019t done anything regarding ICE raids because it hasn\u2019t been a problem. He also cited the political makeup of residents as a reason that city officials haven\u2019t addressed immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in a conservative town, the majority of the people in our city want immigration enforcement,\u201d Loeffler said in an interview.<\/p>\n

De Anda argued that even cities who don\u2019t see much federal enforcement can still help residents by not entering into contracts with agencies or businesses that may help ICE.<\/p>\n

Other city officials, such as those in Laguna Niguel and Placentia, said their lack of a response stems from no experience with federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n

\"\"Councilmembers Arianna Barrios,left, and Ana Gutierrez, right, talk to supporters of their resolution after it failed to pass at the Orange City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Orange City Council members debated introducing immigration policy, but to date haven\u2019t been able to come to an agreement.<\/p>\n

In an interview, Orange Councilmember Arianna Barrios said she and fellow Councilmember Ana Gutierrez pushed hard to take action to support immigrants in the community, but the majority of the council refused to even put an informational page up on the city council\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur bottom line, at the very least, was to ask our colleagues to at least put up a page on our website just providing immigrants within our community \u2014 who are scared or concerned or maybe undocumented \u2014 some resources where they can go to find legal assistance or food assistance or anything like that, and our colleagues refused that as well,\u201d Barrios said.<\/p>\n

Barrios added that Orange is unable to fully support immigrants as much as cities like Anaheim and Santa Ana because of the ongoing budget deficit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, Barrios said cities should do something, adding that it\u2019s an excuse when local elected officials say federal immigration enforcement doesn\u2019t concern municipal matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of an excuse to hide behind this as a federal issue. That\u2019s weak sauce,\u201d Barrios said. \u201cAnd we are put in the positions by the voters to protect everybody. If you let the rights of one group go \u2026 you\u2019re putting everybody\u2019s rights at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

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