It’s no longer a rumor; it’s a documented fact.

Men wearing fake badges and claiming to be federal officials are terrorizing homes, scaring youngsters, and destroying families in the streets of Santa Ana. They are not ICE officers. They are independent bounty hunters, or contractors, who have no legal authority, constitutional authority, or right to be on our streets. They nevertheless take advantage of our anxiety, bewilderment, and the silence of the people sworn to defend us while acting with impunity.

These are not “enforcers.” They are criminals. Impersonating a federal officer is a felony under both California and federal law. Trespassing is defined as entering a residence without permission or a warrant. Using deportation threats to get compliance or money from locals is coercion, and maybe kidnapping. Additionally, according to California Penal Code § 837, every person has the right—and the obligation—to conduct a citizen’s arrest when witnessing such offenses being committed.

Therefore, what is the reason for Santa Ana? The police are unwilling to take action? Not fear of ICE. The problem is not a lack of understanding regarding jurisdiction. It is negligence. It’s complicity by inaction.

Despite the fact that the City Council has correctly created the Ayuda Sin Fronteras fund, submitted FOIA requests, joined federal lawsuits, and received $50,000 in support from Sahuayo, Mexico, our police force is still doing nothing while these criminals are allowed to go free. They aren’t “overworked,” nor are they “confused.” They are making the decision to refrain from enforcing the law. This isn’t a disagreement on policy. This is not a discussion about immigration. This is about fundamental justice.

A mother is not living under a sanctuary city if a man in a black jacket knocks on her door claiming to be federal and she hides in her kitchen while the police do nothing when she calls 911. She’s under siege.

Mayor Amezcua and the City Council have spoken at length about dignity, fairness, and civil rights. They must now insist on action. The Santa Ana Police Department must:

• Utilize current citizen’s arrest laws and state laws against impersonation to immediately train officers to recognize and apprehend bounty hunter imposters.
• Publicly identify and denounce these individuals as criminals rather than “enforcement partners.”
• Establish a quick response team to look into and record each reported event, and then make this information available to the general public.
• In order to prosecute repeat offenders on federal charges, work with the FBI and DOJ.
• Disseminate images, vehicle descriptions, and known methods through community alerts to inform families about who to be afraid of and who to apprehend.

The city’s moral leadership is worthless if its police force won’t defend its citizens from the criminals hiding behind the guise of the federal government.

The $100,000 increase to Ayuda Sin Fronteras is something we applaud. However, a child sleeping without anxiety cannot be replaced by any financial support. The trauma of a house invasion by a guy using a phony badge cannot be undone by any legal action.

The world has seen what bravery looks like, thanks to Santa Ana. It must now demonstrate what justice looks like via arrests, not via press releases.

The bounty hunters are not ICE, they are criminals. They break the law. Additionally, our cops should start treating them like one.

— The People of Santa Ana deserve more than sympathy. They deserve protection.