Santa Ana Police Department Failing to Protect The Residents of Santa Ana.
The people of Santa Ana deserve transparency, protection, and due process under the law. Yet, disturbing reports continue to surface regarding unidentified individuals—often masked and claiming to be federal agents—who are allegedly involved in unlawful detentions and even kidnappings in public view. These actions, reportedly occurring in the presence of Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers who fail to intervene or verify the identities of these individuals, raise urgent questions about both legal responsibility and public safety.
Under California’s Penal Code 832, peace officers are required to act with due diligence in the performance of their duties. When SAPD officers witness what appears to be illegal acts—including kidnapping—and do not intervene or attempt to identify those responsible, they may indeed be complicit under the law. By failing to verify credentials, request identification, or at least investigate such incidents, SAPD officers risk becoming accessories to crimes committed in their presence.
Furthermore, every sworn law enforcement officer has taken an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and protect citizens from unlawful government intrusion. When officers stand by as individuals—whether legitimate federal agents or not—engage in warrantless detentions or abductions, they are violating the very principles they swore to defend.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua, as the head of the city’s executive branch and a representative of the people, must address this alarming situation immediately. The City Council and local oversight bodies also have a duty to ensure that SAPD is fulfilling its mandate to serve and protect all residents of Santa Ana—not turning a blind eye to potential criminal activity, no matter the alleged affiliation of the perpetrators.
We call on Mayor Amezcua and SAPD leadership to:
Issue clear directives for officers to verify the identity and agency affiliation of any individual claiming to be a federal agent before allowing them to conduct operations within the city.
Investigate all reported incidents involving unverified individuals engaging in detentions or arrests.
Provide transparency to the public regarding any coordination or communication with federal agencies operating locally.
Hold accountable any officers who fail to perform their sworn duty to protect citizens from unlawful harm or coercion.
The Constitution does not permit selective enforcement of the law. If our local law enforcement will not uphold it—especially when others abuse their perceived authority—they become part of the problem rather than the solution.
Santa Ana deserves better. Our community deserves safety, clarity, and justice—not silence or complicity.
Unidentified Security making an arrest of an individual for Allegedly Being Undocumented.
A disturbing video has surfaced showing a California security guard acting like a law enforcement officer, detaining an undocumented man outside a Home Depot and claiming he would call immigration authorities. In the footage, the man is held against his will while the so-called “guard” makes false claims of authority, threatening deportation and treating the individual like a criminal suspect — despite having no legal right to make such an arrest.
This isn’t just a case of overstepping — it’s a potential crime.
A Crime in Plain Sight
Under California law, kidnapping is defined as moving a person a substantial distance without their consent, through force or fear (Penal Code § 207). Even if the guard believed he was acting within his rights, intent doesn’t erase the act — and detaining someone without legal authority can constitute kidnapping.
Additionally, impersonating a peace officer is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $10,000 (Penal Code § 538d). If this individual falsely claimed authority, flashed a badge, or otherwise led the detainee to believe he was a legitimate law enforcement officer, he may have committed multiple crimes.
And yet, no charges have been filed. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), which regulates private security guards in California, has reportedly not been notified. No public statement has come from either the security company involved or from Home Depot, which employs the firm under contract.
Security Guard overstepping his Authority and Kidnapping this individual for Allegedly being undocumented.
Who Is Liable?
The question now becomes: Who is responsible for this abuse?
1. The Security Guard
At the very least, the individual guard should be investigated for:
Kidnapping
False imprisonment
Impersonation of an officer
Unauthorized arrest
If proven guilty, the consequences should include immediate revocation of his guard card by BSIS, criminal prosecution, and possible civil liability.
2. The Security Company
Security firms are legally responsible for the actions of their employees when those actions occur during the scope of employment. If this guard was on duty at a location contracted by the company (such as the Home Depot in question), then the company could be liable for:
Negligent hiring or training
Failure to supervise
Allowing unlawful conduct by its agents
Companies must ensure that their employees understand the limits of their authority — especially when it comes to detaining individuals suspected of immigration violations. Private security personnel do not have the power to arrest someone solely for being undocumented.
3. Home Depot
While not a law enforcement agency itself, Home Depot contracts with private security firms to provide services. While they may not be directly liable unless they encouraged or authorized illegal behavior, they still have a moral obligation to distance themselves from misconduct and demand accountability from their contractors.
They also have a responsibility to the public to ensure that the people patrolling their premises are trained, licensed, and operating within the law.
Home Depot Security Enforcement “Officer”
Where Is BSIS?
The fact that BSIS has not been alerted is deeply troubling. As the state agency charged with overseeing private security operations, BSIS must act swiftly when allegations of misconduct arise. That includes investigating incidents like this, suspending or revoking licenses where appropriate, and referring cases to local prosecutors when criminal activity is evident.
If BSIS fails to act, it sends a message that impersonating officers and illegally detaining people won’t carry consequences — a dangerous precedent in a state that prides itself on protecting civil liberties.
A Call for Justice
We cannot allow private security guards to play sheriff, especially when doing so puts vulnerable communities at risk. This incident is not isolated — similar stories have emerged across the country, often targeting immigrants who may not know their rights or fear retaliation if they speak out.
Local law enforcement agencies must also take note: if you witness a citizen being detained by someone claiming to be a federal agent or law enforcement officer, your duty is to verify identity and authority before allowing or assisting in any arrest. Failure to do so may make you complicit in a felony.
Conclusion
This incident demands action:
Prosecute the individual guard for potential crimes.
Hold the security company accountable for oversight failures.
Demand transparency from Home Depot.
Alert and involve BSIS immediately.
No one should live in fear of being detained or deported by someone wearing a badge they don’t deserve.
Enough is enough. It’s time for justice — not vigilante justice disguised as security.
Photo By: The Orange County Reporter / SAPD – A Local Law Enforcement Agency in Orange County who has assisted in arrests with the Alleged Federal Law Enforcement ICE
Disturbing accounts and video evidence have surfaced in recent months indicating that purported federal officials have been carrying out arrests and detentions in Orange County—and even Los Angeles County—without any obvious identification, credentials, or verifiable authority. These occurrences, which frequently involve unmarked cars, plainclothes persons, and ambiguous assertions of federal affiliation, give cause for significant worry about public safety, civil rights, and the rule of law.
Before assisting or cooperating with anyone who claims to be a federal agent in any arrest or detention, it’s time for Orange County’s local law enforcement agencies to take quick action by confirming the identities and qualifications of those people. Not doing so not only endangers the populace but might also implicate local police in unlawful activities, such as kidnapping, which is a crime under California Penal Code.
Source: Facebook/ Union Del Barrio. LAPD Caught protecting Alleged Federal Agents Kidnapping an individual in Downtown L.A. that have not been verified if they are Actually Law Enforcement Agents.
The Issue
Unidentified people are now seen in several videos circulating online, occasionally accompanied by local police, detaining or arresting people without clearly identifying their agency, showing badges, or outlining the legal justification for the arrest. The fact that these people sometimes seem to act without transparency or accountability raises the alarming possibility that they are not actual federal agents but rather bounty hunters, private security officers, or, worse, imposters taking advantage of the public’s confidence in law enforcement.
In Santa Ana, for example, local police were seen aiding in an arrest made by suspected federal agents whose identities have not been established. In Los Angeles County, a startling video showed LAPD officers standing by and defending alleged Federal Agents who forcefully abducted someone from the street. This action may be considered kidnapping under California law if carried out without legal authorization.
What the law says
Kidnapping is defined in California law, particularly in Penal Code § 207, as transporting someone against their will, by force or fear, and without any legal cause. Unless “federal agents” are acting within the confines of legal authority, the law makes no provision for them. A person may be unlawfully deprived of their freedom if they are detained or arrested by someone who claims to have federal status but has no verified credentials, and anybody who helps in such an arrest may face criminal charges.
In particular, local police officers who have been certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) are trained to protect constitutional rights and enforce state laws. This includes making sure that every arrest is legal and made by someone with the authority to do so. Officers violate both their training and their sworn duty when they fail to confirm the validity of those making arrests, particularly when federal affiliation is asserted.
Where Are Our Local Leaders?
The silence of district attorneys, city council members, and Orange County supervisors is deafening. These authorities are in charge of supervising law enforcement procedures and guaranteeing the safety of citizens’ civil rights. However, local agencies have not been given any explicit instruction from the government requiring them to confirm the identities of federal officers.
We ask that the heads of the county and the city come out and give unambiguous directives to every law enforcement agency in the area:
1. Verify Credentials: Before aiding in an arrest or detention, an officer must ascertain the identity, agency connection, and official status of anybody claiming to be a federal agent.
2. Demand Transparency: Officers must demand that any federal officer involved in an arrest produce legitimate identification, justify the basis for the arrest, and produce evidence of authority.
3. Report Suspicious Activity: Any suspected impersonation of a federal agent should be reported right away to the appropriate oversight organizations, such as the California Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.
4. Educate officers accordingly: Local departments must revise procedures and train officers on how to deal with encounters with unidentified federal officers, stressing the significance of adhering to state law and protecting citizens from illegal imprisonment.
Demanding Accountability
It establishes a hazardous precedent for local law enforcement to continue to stand by while unverified agents take people into custody. We cannot let our streets turn into a Wild West where anybody may assert federal power and pull people away with impunity.
This is not about defying federal law enforcement; it’s about making sure that those who assert such authority are real, responsible, and abiding by the law. Residents deserve more than misunderstanding, terror, and the risk of being held unlawfully. They deserve transparency, due process, and the assurance that their local police are protecting them — not enabling would-be criminals who are hiding behind badges they don’t possess.
Orange County needs to set an example for the rest of the state. Law enforcement should no longer aid in arrests made by unverified individuals. And our elected officials must take action right away to safeguard the rights and security of every resident.
Photo by: The Orange County Reporter, Santa Ana Police Department in Controversy for Police Brutality Once Again.
In a scene that has now gone viral, the streets of Santa Ana turned into a battleground between law enforcement and concerned citizens — and the troubling footage raises serious questions about police conduct, accountability, and the misuse of power.
What began as an encounter with a visibly intoxicated man quickly escalated into chaos when Santa Ana police agents were captured on video using excessive force against the individual. The footage shows one agent pushing a woman to the ground and the same police agent is seeing again repeatedly striking the male victim with a baton. Witnesses, including several bystanders who attempted to de-escalate the situation or defend the vulnerable, were met with arrests rather than appreciation.
Video by: Bystander. Shows Santa Ana Police Department Agents Clearly Misuse Of Power Assaulting a Man on the Ground and Bystanders being assaulted trying to prevent the Assault on the Man.
The most disturbing aspect of this case is the reversal of roles being played by authorities. Instead of investigating potential misconduct by their own agents, the Santa Ana Police Department appears to be doubling down, backing claims that the officers were “assaulted” by civilians. And shockingly, District Attorney Spitzer has charged those who tried to intervene — the so-called “good Samaritans” — with crimes, while the agents involved remain on active duty without public disciplinary action.
This sends a dangerous message: that protecting the public from police abuse may itself be criminalized. Where is the justice for the man beaten on the pavement? Where is the protection for the woman shoved to the ground? And where is the outrage over the apparent shielding of law enforcement at the expense of truth and fairness?
Communities deserve to feel safe — not just from crime, but from the very people sworn to protect them. When police brutality occurs and the response is to silence witnesses and criminalize concern, it erodes trust in every level of the justice system.
We call on local officials, civil rights organizations, and the community at large to demand a full and transparent investigation into this incident. The agents involved must be held accountable if the evidence supports it, and the charges against the bystanders should be dropped unless there is clear proof of wrongdoing beyond intervening in what appeared to be a violent and unprovoked attack.
This is not about choosing sides — it’s about upholding justice. If we allow police violence to be justified under the guise of authority, then no one is safe. It’s time for real reform, real oversight, and real consequences.
Enough is enough. The badge should never be a shield for brutality.
No es un agente de la ley federal, sino un cazarrecompensas que infringe las leyes estatales y federales.
En los últimos meses, se ha difundido desinformación en redes sociales y en el discurso político, sugiriendo que el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) o la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) de EE. UU. tienen la autoridad para delegar a ciudadanos estadounidenses comunes en la aplicación de la ley migratoria. Esta afirmación no solo es engañosa, sino categóricamente falsa, y su persistencia podría socavar la confianza pública en las fuerzas del orden federales y generar peligrosos malentendidos sobre el estado de derecho.
Seamos claros: ni el ICE ni la CBP designan a ciudadanos estadounidenses comunes para fines policiales. Estas agencias cuentan con oficiales y agentes capacitados y juramentados que se someten a rigurosas verificaciones de antecedentes, capacitación especializada y rinden cuentas ante la ley federal. La idea de que a los estadounidenses comunes se les puedan otorgar las facultades de agentes federales de las fuerzas del orden es una invención sin fundamento legal ni político.
Entendiendo las Agencias
El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE) opera bajo el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) y es responsable de hacer cumplir las leyes federales que rigen el control fronterizo, las aduanas, el comercio y la inmigración. Sus agentes son profesionales altamente capacitados encargados de investigar violaciones a la ley de inmigración, la trata de personas, el contrabando y otras amenazas a la seguridad nacional.
La Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos (CBP) es la agencia encargada de la seguridad fronteriza en los puertos de entrada y entre ellos. Los oficiales de la CBP y los agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza son agentes federales encargados de hacer cumplir las leyes de inmigración, aduanas y agricultura.
Ambas agencias trabajan dentro de un marco legal establecido por el Congreso y supervisado por el DHS y el sistema judicial más amplio.
¿Por qué no se produce la delegación?
El concepto de delegación —donde una agencia gubernamental autoriza temporalmente a civiles a actuar en su nombre— no es inédito en la historia estadounidense, particularmente en tiempos de guerra o emergencia. Sin embargo, en el contexto moderno, especialmente en lo que respecta a la aplicación de la ley migratoria:
Restricciones legales : No existe ninguna ley federal actual que autorice a ICE o CBP a delegar a ciudadanos privados en la aplicación de las leyes de inmigración.
Capacitación y rendición de cuentas : Las fuerzas del orden requieren una amplia capacitación, conocimientos jurídicos y medidas de rendición de cuentas. Empoderar a personas sin la capacitación adecuada supondría graves riesgos para los derechos civiles y la seguridad pública.
Cadena de Mando : Las agencias federales operan bajo estrictas cadenas de mando y supervisión. Permitir que personas no oficiales actúen como agentes socava el debido proceso y podría dar lugar a abusos de poder.
El peligro de la desinformación
Promover la creencia de que el ICE o la CBP pueden delegar responsabilidades a los ciudadanos alimenta las teorías conspirativas y el vigilantismo. Puede animar a las personas a tomarse la justicia por su mano, lo que deriva en acoso, detenciones ilegales y discriminación racial, todo lo cual erosiona la confianza de la comunidad y viola derechos constitucionales.
Además, estas afirmaciones distraen de los debates reales sobre la reforma migratoria, la seguridad fronteriza y los desafíos que enfrentan estas agencias. Además, generan un temor innecesario en las comunidades inmigrantes, polarizando aún más un tema ya de por sí polémico.
Conclusión
Es vital que sepamos distinguir entre la realidad y la ficción en lo que respecta a la aplicación de las leyes migratorias. ICE y CBP son agencias federales profesionales que llevan a cabo misiones complejas y difíciles conforme a la ley. Difundir falsedades sobre sus operaciones perjudica al público y amenaza la integridad de nuestras instituciones democráticas.
Instamos a la ciudadanía a confiar en fuentes de información fiables y a abordar las afirmaciones sobre las agencias federales con escepticismo y pensamiento crítico. En tiempos de profunda división política y desinformación generalizada, la claridad y la verdad son más importantes que nunca.
Not A Federal Law Enforcement Agent, but A Bounty Hunter Breaking State and Federal Laws.
In recent months, misinformation has spread across social media and political discourse suggesting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have the authority to deputize ordinary American citizens to assist in immigration enforcement. This claim is not only misleading—it’s categorically false, and its persistence risks undermining public trust in federal law enforcement and creating dangerous misunderstandings about the rule of law.
Let us be clear: Neither ICE nor CBP deputizes ordinary U.S. citizens for law enforcement purposes. These agencies are staffed by trained, sworn officers and agents who undergo rigorous background checks, specialized training, and are held accountable under federal law. The idea that average Americans can be granted the powers of federal law enforcement officers is a fabrication with no basis in statute or policy.
Understanding the Agencies
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is responsible for enforcing federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. Its agents are highly trained professionals tasked with investigating violations of immigration law, human trafficking, smuggling, and other national security threats.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the frontline agency charged with securing the nation’s borders at and between ports of entry. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents are federal law enforcement personnel who enforce immigration, customs, and agricultural laws.
Both agencies work within a legal framework established by Congress and overseen by DHS and the broader judicial system.
Why Deputization Doesn’t Happen
The concept of deputization—where a government agency temporarily authorizes civilians to act on its behalf—is not unheard of in American history, particularly during times of war or emergency. However, in the modern context, especially regarding immigration enforcement:
Legal Constraints: There is no current federal law authorizing ICE or CBP to deputize private citizens for immigration enforcement.
Training and Accountability: Law enforcement requires extensive training, legal knowledge, and accountability measures. Empowering untrained individuals would pose serious risks to civil rights and public safety.
Chain of Command: Federal agencies operate under strict chains of command and oversight. Allowing non-officials to act as agents undermines due process and could lead to abuses of power.
The Danger of Misinformation
Promoting the belief that ICE or CBP can deputize citizens fuels conspiracy theories and vigilantism. It can embolden individuals to take the law into their own hands, leading to harassment, unlawful detentions, and racial profiling—all of which erode community trust and violate constitutional rights.
Moreover, such claims distract from real discussions about immigration reform, border security, and the challenges faced by these agencies. They also create unnecessary fear among immigrant communities, further polarizing an already contentious issue.
Conclusion
It is vital that we separate fact from fiction when it comes to immigration enforcement. ICE and CBP are professional federal agencies carrying out complex and difficult missions under the law. Spreading falsehoods about their operations does a disservice to the public and threatens the integrity of our democratic institutions.
We urge citizens to rely on credible sources of information and to approach claims about federal agencies with skepticism and critical thinking. In a time of deep political division and widespread misinformation, clarity and truth matter more than ever.
El hombre no identificado afirma ser agente de ICE, pero no tiene una placa identificable. Apunta con un arma a personas desarmadas que grababan el arresto de un inmigrante en Santa Ana, California.
Ha surgido un video inquietante que muestra a hombres armados no identificados, que dicen ser agentes de ICE, apuntando con un arma a una persona que documentaba sus acciones durante lo que parecía ser un arresto migratorio en Santa Ana. Esto no es solo una violación de las libertades civiles, sino una peligrosa escalada que pone vidas en riesgo y erosiona la confianza pública en las fuerzas del orden.
Santa Ana California, ¿Dónde está el Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana?
Las imágenes plantean preguntas urgentes: ¿Quiénes son estos individuos? ¿Por qué se les permitió operar sin una identificación clara ni supervisión? Y, quizás lo más importante, ¿dónde estaban las autoridades locales?
En una ciudad donde la seguridad y los derechos de todos los residentes deben ser primordiales, la ausencia de una respuesta rápida y contundente por parte de los líderes locales es alarmante. La alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua y otros funcionarios municipales han guardado silencio en gran medida tras este incidente, a pesar de las graves implicaciones para la seguridad y la rendición de cuentas de la comunidad. El Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana, que desde hace tiempo se ha posicionado como un defensor de la confianza pública, debe responder por qué ningún agente intervino o siquiera respondió a lo que podría haber sido un enfrentamiento mortal.
La individual grabando video podría haber sido asesinada, ¿por qué Amezcua no se involucra en esta descarada demostración de poder que pone en riesgo a los residentes de Santa Ana?
Cuando individuos armados, ya sean agentes federales o no, operan en nuestros barrios con poca transparencia o supervisión, el potencial de violencia aumenta exponencialmente. Esto es especialmente cierto cuando estos individuos parecen actuar con impunidad, intimidando a civiles que simplemente intentan observar y documentar actividades legales (o ilegales). Esto no solo es imprudente, sino que constituye una amenaza para la democracia.
Si bien el ICE tiene el mandato de hacer cumplir las leyes federales de inmigración, dicha autoridad debe ejercerse dentro de los límites legales y éticos. No hay justificación para blandir un arma de fuego contra alguien que ejerce su derecho a grabar a funcionarios públicos en espacios públicos. Si efectivamente se trataba de agentes del ICE, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional debe iniciar una investigación inmediata. De no ser así, ¿quiénes eran exactamente? ¿Y cómo operaban tan abiertamente en una importante ciudad estadounidense?
¿Milicia en Santa Ana California, afirmando ser ICE?
Los políticos locales como el alcalde Amezcua no pueden permitirse el silencio. Sus electores merecen más que clichés: merecen protección. Los líderes deben exigir claridad a las agencias federales, garantizar la coordinación entre las fuerzas del orden locales y federales y, sobre todo, reafirmar su compromiso con la seguridad de todos los residentes, independientemente de su estatus migratorio.
No se trata de partidismo. Se trata de la dignidad humana fundamental y la seguridad pública. Alguien pudo haber muerto ese día. El hecho de que no lo hayan hecho no es motivo de alivio; es una advertencia. No podemos permitir que nuestras calles se conviertan en campos de batalla donde figuras armadas no identificadas ejerzan un poder sin control.
Santa Ana se enorgullece de ser una comunidad diversa, vibrante e inclusiva. Esa identidad no significa nada si no nos movilizamos para proteger a los más vulnerables. Nuestros líderes deben alzar la voz, actuar y exigir responsabilidades a los responsables, antes de que ocurra una tragedia.
Basta de silencio. Basta de excusas. Es hora de un verdadero liderazgo.
The unidentified man claims to be ICE but no Identifiable ICE Badge. Posting a weapon at unarmed individuals recording an immigrant arrest in Santa Ana California.
A disturbing video has surfaced showing unidentified armed men, claiming to be ICE agents, pointing a gun at a person who was documenting their actions during what appeared to be an immigration arrest in Santa Ana. This is not just a violation of civil liberties—it is a dangerous escalation that puts lives at risk and erodes public trust in law enforcement.
Santa Ana California, Where’s Santa Ana Police Department?
The footage raises urgent questions: Who are these individuals? Why were they allowed to operate without clear identification or oversight? And perhaps most importantly—where were the local authorities?
In a city where the safety and rights of all residents should be paramount, the absence of a swift and forceful response from local leadership is alarming. Mayor Valerie Amezcua and other city officials have remained largely silent in the wake of this incident, despite the serious implications for community safety and accountability. The Santa Ana Police Department, which has long positioned itself as a guardian of public trust, must answer why no officers intervened or even responded to what could have been a deadly confrontation.
The individual recording could have been killed, why isn’t Amezcua Getting Involved in This Blatant Show of Power putting Santa Ana Residents at Risk?
When armed individuals—whether federal agents or otherwise—operate in our neighborhoods with little transparency or oversight, the potential for violence increases exponentially. This is especially true when those individuals appear to act with impunity, intimidating civilians who are simply trying to observe and document lawful (or unlawful) activity. It is not only reckless; it is a threat to democracy.
While ICE does have a mandate to enforce federal immigration laws, that authority must be exercised within legal and ethical boundaries. There is no justification for brandishing a firearm at someone exercising their right to record public officials in public spaces. If these were indeed ICE agents, then the Department of Homeland Security must launch an immediate investigation. If they were not—who exactly were they? And how did they operate so openly in a major American city?
Militia in Santa Ana California, Claiming to be ICE?
Local politicians like Mayor Amezcua cannot afford to stay silent. Their constituents deserve more than platitudes—they deserve protection. Leaders must demand clarity from federal agencies, ensure coordination between local and federal law enforcement, and above all, reaffirm their commitment to the safety of every resident, regardless of immigration status.
This is not about partisanship. This is about basic human dignity and public safety. Someone could have been killed that day. The fact that they weren’t is not a reason to breathe a sigh of relief—it’s a warning shot across the bow. We cannot allow our streets to become battlegrounds where unidentified armed figures wield unchecked power.
Santa Ana prides itself on being a diverse, vibrant, and inclusive community. That identity means nothing if we do not stand up to protect the most vulnerable among us. Our leaders must speak out, take action, and hold those responsible accountable—before tragedy strikes.
Enough silence. Enough excuses. It’s time for real leadership.
Last night, if you caught my Facebook Live broadcast, you witnessed a moment that cut deep into the soul of our community. I found myself stepping into a couple of tense altercations during what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration of solidarity in Downtown Santa Ana.
The first involved a young Latino man, overwhelmed with pain. Another demonstrator tried to de-escalate the situation, but emotions were high, and instead of cooling down, things flared up—especially between the young man, law enforcement, and military personnel on site. I had to step in. What could have turned violent needed a voice of calm. I did my best to be that voice.
Lone Demonstration of Solidarity
This young man—hurting, frustrated, and grieving—had family in the military. The pain he carried exploded into words directed at law enforcement. Again, I stepped in to calm him. But minutes later, after walking away, he returned, now face-to-face with an OCSD deputy. This time, his grief turned to desperation. He pleaded with the officer to shoot him. Said he wanted to die like his brother, who lost his life in service.
He stood just inches from the deputy, who had assumed an aggressive posture. I intervened once again, shielding this broken soul from what could have become another tragic incident on our streets.
Solidarity
Which raises the question: What is it with law enforcement and the lack of empathy? Have badges and state protection numbed their humanity? When did they stop hearing pain and start seeing only threats?
I have family in the military—my brother, my cousins. I understand duty. But duty, whether in uniform or behind a badge, is first and foremost to the Constitution, not to a delusional narcissist like Donald Trump. The U.S. Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the Oath of Enlistment make this clear: uphold the Constitution, not the man who happens to sit in the Oval Office.
Orange County Sheriff Department taking an Aggressive Stance on Peaceful Protest.
The same should be expected of our local police. Their oath is not to power—it’s to principle. Yet increasingly, we’re seeing the military and law enforcement used not as protectors of the people, but as enforcers of a nationalist, fascist agenda driven by fear and division.
We are not the enemy. That young man was not the enemy. He was a citizen in pain. And what he needed was compassion—not confrontation.
What reason would the Santa Ana Police Department use rubber bullets to shoot protesters who were only yelling words—albeit angry ones? Let’s not sugarcoat what happened. In Santa Ana, protesters were exercising their constitutional rights. Shouting their anger and displeasure at law enforcement—an activity safeguarded by the First Amendment—they were. And in reaction, the police did not respond with conversation or restraint, but with weapons.
Rubber bullets are not harmless. They are not a “safe” option. They result in very serious bodily harm. They disfigure. They cause blindness. They even cause Death. People have suffered from fractured bones, internal hemorrhage, and lasting impairments as a result of these so-called “less lethal” weapons. Santa Ana Police Department Agents are committing violence under the color of law, when law enforcement uses them against crowds just for yelling.
Protestor with Hands Up and no weapon, Santa Ana Police Department Agents pointing the rubber bullet weapon at the unarmed individual and ready to shoot.
This is against the law. This isn’t public safety; it’s putting the public at risk.
Police provoke disorder when they turn a peaceful protest into a violent clash, which undermines the right to assemble. They bring about the very unrest they claim to be averting. Additionally, the lack of accountability for these acts sends a clear warning to the public that disagreement will be punished.
A least 3 Santa Ana Police Department Agents on top of the individual on the ground that was not resisting arrest.
The Santa Ana Police Department needs to be held accountable. These incidents are not isolated; rather, they are part of a larger trend of repression and intimidation intended to silence voices critical of law enforcement, particularly in marginalized communities.
Peaceful Demonstrator who was arrested.
We must insist on thorough investigations, legal accountability, and systemic change. Santa Ana’s streets should never be a battleground. The right to protest should be protected, not singled out.
The public has a say. And it won’t be silenced by a rubber bullet.
The OC Reporter 