In a city already navigating tense political crosscurrents, Santa Ana was thrust into the national spotlight Monday as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted unannounced raids across Orange County. What followed was a wave of public backlash, culminating in a volatile protest outside the Santa Ana Federal Building — a protest that would eventually be declared an unlawful assembly and met with forceful crowd control tactics.
Benny proudly shared his taking of the oath to join the US Navy JAG Corps last year on his LinkedIn account. 2/6 pic.twitter.com/s82oLMZKaW
— Shoe (@samosaur) June 10, 2025
According to officials, the protests began lawfully around the Civic Center Plaza but escalated into chaos as demonstrators launched firecrackers and reportedly threw rocks, bottles, and mortars at law enforcement. KTLA’s live coverage showed tear gas and flashbangs detonating across the plaza as federal and local agencies scrambled to contain the surge. At least one person was detained on the scene, and multiple injuries were reported as rubber bullets and pepper balls were deployed to disperse the crowd.
As soon as he was identified and called out in the comments, he nuked his account. 4/6 pic.twitter.com/91jrKvwYEJ
— Shoe (@samosaur) June 10, 2025
A visibly shaken but resolute Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez issued a stark warning: “When a peaceful demonstration escalates… it is no longer a lawful assembly.” SAPD, while distancing itself from immigration enforcement, confirmed it stepped in only after U.S. Attorney Bill A. Essayli contacted the city requesting emergency assistance. Federal officers were, by that point, being “overrun” at the building.
Benny’s chain of command has been notified. However, in case you’d like to follow up, this should help.
This kind of threatening behavior towards agents, who are already under fire, simply cannot be allowed, especially from an officer whose job is to provide legal advice to his… pic.twitter.com/lMk37iCEba
— Shoe (@samosaur) June 10, 2025
The raids themselves remain cloaked in ambiguity. Officials have offered no details, but community members and Congressman Lou Correa (D-Orange County) painted a grim picture. Correa, speaking from Washington before returning urgently to his home district, described scenes of innocent bystanders — “hard-working, law-abiding taxpayers” — allegedly being profiled and detained. “It’s unacceptable, and shocking,” he wrote. “These are the parents whose children went to school with my kids.”
Here’s his work experience pic.twitter.com/PRxFpKfCYp
— Shoe (@samosaur) June 10, 2025
His statement grew more personal and impassioned: “Yesterday, everything was good and boring in Santa Ana… Today ICE is coming in to raid and disrupt our neighborhood?” Correa urged protestors to take a page from the playbooks of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. — resist, yes, but do so smartly, legally, and peacefully.
Active duty Navy JAG officer said he will hunt down ICE agents.
.@SecDef @DODResponse https://t.co/Wg7DC9gVZf pic.twitter.com/LJrR3p4i4B
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 10, 2025
The city and school district echoed that sentiment. Both issued emergency resource links and contact points for legal assistance, while reaffirming their support for the immigrant community. “We do not condone actions that disrupt our community or separate families,” said the Santa Ana Unified School District.
Notably, city leaders made clear that SAPD — like many Southern California law enforcement agencies — no longer participates in immigration enforcement. Even so, social media proved faster than policy: SAPD learned of ICE’s activities only through digital posts circulating Monday afternoon.
