Category / immigration

by The Orange County Reporter

EDITORIAL: “Land of the Free” becomes “Land under Siege”

Peaceful Demonstrations Throughout The US

From the suburbs of Minneapolis to the streets of Santa Ana, the American promise of “liberty and justice for all” is now being broken down piece by piece. A political police state, where federal “Gestapo” methods are becoming the norm, is what immigration enforcement has evolved into from what it once was.

The Minnesota Blueprint: Exploitation and Executions

In what can only be called public executions, two American citizens, Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, have died at the hands of federal agents in front of the entire country in the past three weeks. Bystander footage of Pretti’s case shows a man with only a cell phone in his hand before he is tackled and murdered. Instead of transparency, we see an executive administration surrounding the wagons and calling victims “domestic terrorists” in order to rationalize the inexcusable.

The employment of children as tactical weapons is even more heinous. The fact that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was detained and allegedly coerced by agents into serving as “bait” to entice his family out of their house demonstrates that no one is safe. We have lost our moral compass when the government starts utilizing preschoolers as pawns in a “kill or be killed” situation.

Orange County Receives the Cancer

The “cancer” of this police state is spreading quickly here in Orange County, although Minnesota is now the epicenter. There is a worrisome tendency for local law enforcement to work with DHS and ICE, sometimes in blatant disregard of California’s sanctuary laws.

  • Fullerton: According to recent reports and video evidence, the Fullerton Police Department is now functioning as a support wing for federal agents, opening doors to private complexes and setting up perimeters as agents move around with semi-automatic weapons.
  • Anaheim: Recorded video shows local police officers either standing by or actively helping during violent raids at nearby establishments, such auto repair shops and car washes among them.
  • Activist Harassment: The targeting of individuals who dare to watch is maybe the most alarming aspect. In Orange County, California, activists are being followed by the California Highway Patrol and arrested by local police just for recording federal operations. The boundary between “protection” and “political enforcement” has blurred when federal agents are able to phone 911 to have local police “cut off” or harass a citizen monitor only a few blocks away from their residence.

A deadly silence

Where are the people we elected? As these paramilitary activities continue to interrupt our daily lives, our County Supervisors and Senator Tom Umberg, who represents Santa Ana and north Orange County, remain mostly silent. Their inaction gives the go-ahead for more escalation.

We need to consider when we stand up. It will be too late if we wait for a “public execution” to occur in our own backyard—if it is our neighbor, our friend, or our child. The shift from a free society to a police state does not occur suddenly; It occurs as a result of the close cooperation of local law enforcement and the deafening silence of our leaders.

Before the next victim is one of us, it is time for the city, county, and state authorities in California to end this massacre.

by The Orange County Reporter

EDITORIAL: “Tierra de la Libertad” se convierte en “Tierra Asediada “.

Demonstraciones De Paz en Todo El US


Desde los suburbios de Minneapolis hasta las calles de Santa Ana, la promesa estadounidense de “libertad y justicia para todos” se está desmoronando poco a poco . Un estado policial político , donde los métodos federales de la “Gestapo” se están convirtiendo en la norma, es en lo que la aplicación de la ley migratoria se ha convertido de lo que era antes .

El Plan de Minnesota: Explotación y Ejecuciones.

En lo que solo pueden llamarse ejecuciones públicas , dos ciudadanos estadounidenses , Renée Nicole Good y Alex Pretti , han muerto a manos de agentes federales frente a todo el país en las últimas tres semanas . Las imágenes de un transeúnte del caso de Pretti muestran a un hombre con solo un teléfono celular en la mano antes de ser abordado y asesinado . En lugar de transparencia, vemos a una administración ejecutiva rodeando a las víctimas y llamando a las víctimas “terroristas domésticos” para justificar lo inexcusable .

El empleo de niños como armas tácticas es aún más atroz . El hecho de que Liam Conejo Ramos, de 5 años, fuera detenido y presuntamente coaccionado por agentes para servir de cebo y convencer a su familia de que saliera de casa demuestra que nadie está a salvo. Hemos perdido la brújula moral cuando el gobierno empieza a utilizar a niños en edad preescolar como peones en una situación de “matar o morir” .

El Condado de Orange recibe el cáncer .

El “cáncer” de este estado policial se está extendiendo rápidamente aquí en el Condado de Orange , aunque Minnesota es ahora el epicentro . Existe una preocupante tendencia por parte de las fuerzas del orden locales a colaborar con el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) y el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) , a veces en flagrante desacato a las leyes santuario de California.

  • Fullerton : Según informes recientes y pruebas en vídeo .El Departamento de Policía de Fullerton funciona ahora como un ala de apoyo para los agentes federales , abriendo puertas a complejos privados y estableciendo perímetros mientras los agentes se desplazan con armas semiautomáticas.
  • Anaheim: Un video grabado muestra a agentes de la policía local, ya sea observando o ayudando activamente durante redadas violentas en establecimientos cercanos , como talleres mecánicos y lavaderos de autos . Acoso
  • A Activistas : El acoso a individuos que se atreven a observar es quizás el aspecto más alarmante . En el condado de Orange , California, activistas están siendo seguidos por la Patrulla de Carreteras de California y arrestados por la policía local solo por grabar operaciones federales . La frontera entre “protección” y “aplicación política” se ha desdibujado cuando los agentes federales pueden llamar al 911 para que la policía local “interrumpa” o acose a un observador ciudadano a solo unas cuadras de su residencia .

Un silencio sepulcral.

¿Dónde están las personas que elegimos? Mientras estas actividades paramilitares continúan interrumpiendo nuestra vida diaria, nuestros supervisores del condado y el senador Tom Umberg, quien representa a Santa Ana y al norte del condado de Orange, permanecen mayormente en silencio. Su inacción da luz verde a una mayor escalada.

Debemos considerar cuándo nos ponemos de pie . Será demasiado tarde si esperamos a que ocurra una “ejecución pública” en nuestro propio patio trasero, ya sea de nuestro vecino, nuestro amigo o nuestro hijo. La transición de una sociedad libre a un estado policial no ocurre de repente ; ocurre como resultado de la estrecha cooperación de las fuerzas del orden locales y el silencio ensordecedor de nuestros líderes.

Antes de que la próxima víctima sea uno de nosotros, es hora de que las autoridades municipales, del condado y estatales …California debe poner fin a esta masacre.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: California’s “No Secret Police Act” Becomes Law: A Revolutionary Step Toward Police Transparency Faces Federal Opposition

The “No Secret Police Act” –  SB 627 is in effect as of January 1st 2026.

The “No Secret Police Act,” which is a revolutionary legislation that forbids all law enforcement officers working in the state, including federal agents (like those from ICE or CBP) and out-of-state personnel, from wearing face coverings that conceal their identity while on duty, has been implemented in California as of January 1, 2026, in accordance with Senate Bill 627. The prohibition particularly aims at “extreme” coverings, such as ski masks or balaclavas, that conceal facial features to the extent that an officer cannot be easily recognized by their name or badge number.

Growing public concern that unidentified federal officials were carrying out operations, notably immigration enforcement, in large California cities while fully masked and without any means of identification led to the legislation. These methods were compared by critics to those used in authoritarian regimes, claiming they eroded community trust and fostered dread as opposed to security. By requiring that all individuals who use police authority in the state be clearly identifiable, SB 627 seeks to reestablish accountability.

By July 1, 2026, all law enforcement organizations, including local, state, federal, and even visiting out-of-state task forces, must implement and make public written policies governing the use of facial coverings in accordance with the new legislation. Reflecting the legislature’s serious purpose, infractions may lead to both civil litigation and criminal punishment. Nonetheless, there have been worries about this enforcement strategy: Particularly in cases with high visibility or political sensitivity, critics caution that identifying officers might leave them vulnerable to internet bullying, doxxing, or retribution.

Transparency is essential in a democracy, according to its proponents. During the bill’s debate, a legislative assistant stated, “If the public doesn’t know who is policing them, you cannot have accountable policing.” The legislation also addresses a real threat: the possibility of criminals posing as law enforcement officials. SB 627 aims to remove ambiguity that might facilitate fraud or violence by increasing the number of videos that go viral and feature masked people asserting authority.

However, there is immediate and strong opposition to the legislation. In environments where federal officers face threats from cartels, human traffickers, or domestic extremists, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deemed SB 627 unconstitutional, claiming that it impedes their capacity to carry out their responsibilities safely. DHS has indicated plans to contest the legislation in court under the notion of federal preemption and contends that the state has no jurisdiction over the actions of federal law enforcement.

This legal conflict lays the groundwork for a potential constitutional struggle in the United States Supreme Court over the conflict between state rights and federal authority. Meanwhile, California’s daring experiment serves as a national test case: Does a state have the authority to require transparency from everyone who wears a badge on its territory, regardless of jurisdiction?

By redefining the ethical and visual limits of contemporary policing, SB 627 has the potential to serve as a model for similar legislation throughout the nation if it is supported. In an age where the borders between state and federal authority are becoming more and more hazy, it may strengthen the boundaries of state power if it is defeated. In any case, California has reopened a vital discussion about who is watching the watchers and if they should be permitted to wear a mask..

Although this statute is formally in force as of January 2026, the State of California and the federal government are now embroiled in a significant legal dispute about it.

The No Secret Police Act (SB 627)’s Main Provisions

  • Mask Ban: It forbids local and federal law enforcement officers from wearing ski masks, balaclavas, or neck gaiters that cover their faces while on duty.
  • Identification Requirements: Uniforms, names, or badge numbers must make law enforcement officials easily identifiable. The No Vigilantes Act (SB 805), which particularly addresses the “secret police” tactics employed in recent immigration raids, is frequently coupled with this.

Results of infractions:

  • Civil Liability: Officers who wear masks when committing torts (such as false arrest or assault) lose some of their legal protections (qualified immunity) and may be subject to a minimum civil fine of $10,000.
  • Criminal Charges: A breach of the mask ban may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor.

Existing Legal Position (January 2026)

You should be aware of the following changes, even though the legislation became law on January 1, 2026:

  • Federal Lawsuit: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against California, claiming that the state cannot regulate the actions of federal agents (ICE, Border Patrol). They claim that this contravenes the Constitution’s “Supremacy Clause.”
  • Temporary Injunction: In late December 2025, a federal court (Judge Christina A. Snyder) issued a temporary stop (injunction) on the enforcement of certain provisions of the law against federal officers while the case is pending adjudication.
  • On the Ground Conflict: Some District Attorneys in California, like those in San Francisco, have said they plan to aggressively enforce the law and have even implied that local police may arrest federal agents who break these state laws.

The Law’s Exceptions

Although the law has some restrictions on mask use, there are particular situations when it is permitted:

  • Undercover Operations: In order to guarantee the security of agents in deep-cover positions.
  • Medical/Tactical Equipment: Standard tactical helmets or medical-grade masks, such as N95s, worn for health reasons.
  • Fire/Dangerous Situations: Masks that provide physical protection from environmental dangers.
by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: La Ejecución de Minneapolis: Un Réquiem por La Democracia Estadounidense

Nota del editor: Este no es el primer caso de asesinato por parte de un agente de ICE desde que la administración Trump asumió el cargo, y probablemente no será el último a menos que algo cambie. Este problema nos afecta cada día más. El Condado de Orange es nuestra comunidad, y no podemos permitirnos permanecer en silencio mientras esté en riesgo. Por favor, manténganse alerta y alcen la voz. No podemos permitir que la división política destruya la seguridad de nuestro país y nuestra comunidad.

El agente de ICE Jonathan Ross, el asesino Renee Good

El miércoles 7 de enero de 2026, el experimento estadounidense pasó del estado de derecho al imperio de las armas. El asesinato de Renee Nicole Good, madre de tres hijos, asesinada a sangre fría por el agente del ICE Jonathan Ross, no fue un “trágico accidente” ni una “escalada necesaria”. Fue una ejecución. Capturadas con múltiples lentes de alta definición, las imágenes desmienten las mentiras del gobierno: no había una amenaza inminente, solo una mujer que intentaba sobrevivir a la persecución de un escuadrón de la muerte autorizado por el estado.

El Etiquetado de Una Víctima

Lo más escalofriante de este asesinato no es solo el momento en que se aprieta el gatillo, sino la tinta que se imprime. Al etiquetar inmediatamente a la Sra. Good como “terrorista doméstica”, la actual administración ha indicado su intención de usar la deshumanización como escudo para la violencia de Estado. Esta es una táctica autoritaria clásica: si se puede llamar “enemigo” a un ciudadano, se puede justificar cualquier atrocidad cometida contra él. Cuando el presidente utiliza al ICE como una fuerza policial secreta privada, y J.D. Vance aboga por la inmunidad total para estos agentes, en realidad están colocando a la “Gestapo” por encima de la Constitución.

El silencio del Capitolio

El Congreso se encuentra actualmente en una encrucijada de cobardía. Mientras los legisladores han visto las mismas imágenes que nosotros, los poderes fácticos guardan silencio. Esperan una “investigación adecuada” mientras las pruebas son evidentes. ¿Cuál es el umbral para actuar? ¿Acaso la guerra civil declarada por el poder ejecutivo contra el pueblo —tanto inmigrantes como ciudadanos— debe llegar a las puertas del Capitolio para que el poder legislativo recuerde su deber de control y equilibrio?

El Fracaso del Cuarto Poder

Mientras los reporteros independientes buscan la verdad, los grandes medios de comunicación siguen alimentando la ira del gobierno, minimizando un asesinato como un “incidente de seguridad”. Justifican el asesinato de una madre frente a su comunidad porque encaja en una narrativa de “ley y orden”. Pero no hay orden en un sistema donde un agente puede matar con impunidad, y no hay ley en un país donde la policía local es ignorada por agentes federales que no responden ante nadie.

Una Advertencia para El Ejecutor

Para Jonathan Ross: Puede que te sientas protegido por el clima político actual, pero la historia es un testimonio largo e implacable. Al optar por actuar como instrumento de una dictadura en auge, has sacrificado tu humanidad y has puesto en peligro la seguridad misma de tu propio legado. El karma no es una política; es la consecuencia inevitable de tus acciones.

La Ultima Línea

¿En qué momento una democracia se convierte en dictadura? Sucede cuando la gente deja de preguntarse “¿por qué?” y empieza a preguntarse “¿quién sigue?”. Si Renée Nicole Good puede ser asesinada en video sin arresto, entonces nadie, independientemente de su estatus, está a salvo. Se ha cruzado la línea. El video es la evidencia. El silencio es la complicidad.

La justicia para Renee Nicole Good no es sólo una cuestión de un agente; se trata de si todavía vivimos en una nación de leyes o en una nación de sombras.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: The Minneapolis Execution: A Requiem for American Democracy

Editor’s Note: This is not the first instance of an assassination by an ICE agent since the Trump administration took office, and it likely won’t be the last unless something changes. This issue is hitting closer to home every day. Orange County is our community, and we cannot afford to stay silent while it is put at risk. Please, stay alert and speak up. We cannot allow political division to destroy the safety of our country and community.

ICE Agent Jonathan Ross the Murderer Renee Good

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the American experiment shifted from the rule of law to the rule of the gun. The killing of Renee Nicole Good—a mother of three shot in cold blood by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross—was not a “tragic accident” or a “necessary escalation.” It was an execution. Caught on multiple high-definition lenses, the footage strips away the administration’s lies: there was no imminent threat, only a woman trying to survive a pursuit by a state-sanctioned hit squad.

​The Labeling of a Victim

​The most chilling aspect of this murder is not just the pull of the trigger, but the ink of the pen. By immediately labeling Ms. Good a “Domestic Terrorist,” the current administration has signaled its intent to use dehumanization as a shield for state violence. This is a classic authoritarian tactic: if you can name a citizen an “enemy,” you can justify any atrocity committed against them. When the President uses ICE as a private secret police force, and JD Vance advocates for total immunity for these agents, they are effectively placing the “Gestapo” above the Constitution.

​The Silence of the Capitol

​Congress currently stands at a crossroads of cowardice. While lawmakers have viewed the same footage that we have, the halls of power remain silent. They wait for a “proper investigation” while the evidence sits in plain sight. What is the threshold for action? Does the civil war declared by the executive branch against the people—immigrant and citizen alike—need to reach the front steps of the Capitol before the legislative branch remembers its duty to check and balance?

​The Failure of the Fourth Estate

​While independent reporters seek the truth, the mainstream media continues to carry water for the administration, sanitizing a murder into a “security incident.” They justify the killing of a mother in front of her community because it fits a narrative of “law and order.” But there is no order in a system where an agent can kill with impunity, and there is no law in a country where the local police are bypassed by federal enforcers who answer to no one.

​A Warning to the Enforcer

​To Jonathan Ross: You may feel protected by the current political climate, but history is a long and unforgiving witness. By choosing to act as a tool of a burgeoning dictatorship, you have sacrificed your humanity and endangered the very safety of your own legacy. Karma is not a political policy; it is the inevitable consequence of one’s actions.

​The Final Line

​At what point does a democracy become a dictatorship? It happens when the people stop asking “why” and start asking “who is next?” If Renee Nicole Good can be murdered on video without an arrest, then no one—regardless of their status—is safe. The line has been crossed. The video is the evidence. The silence is the complicity.

​Justice for Renee Nicole Good is not just about one agent; it is about whether we still live in a nation of laws or a nation of shadows.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Starve the Machine: Why Communities Must Cut Off ICE’s Lifelines

Hands Up – Don’t Shoot!

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to function in cities and towns throughout the United States with blatant contempt for constitutional principles, civil rights, and human dignity. The raids take place during the early hours of the morning. Parents disappear from school drop-offs. Workers are abducted from their workplaces—all without warrants, frequently without justification, and always with the unsettling effectiveness of an organization that believes it is accountable to no one.

However, the reality is that ICE operates on more than just power. It uses gas. Regarding coffee from the corner deli. The serene complicity of local business, parking places, and Wi-Fi are all available at rest stops. That is exactly where communities have the power and obligation to retaliate.

City Officials should be doing this as a Sanctuary City.

The concept is straightforward but has far-reaching consequences:  “If you don’t want ICE in your community, stop supporting it.”

Don’t sell gasoline to ICE vehicles that are marked or unlabeled. bar representatives for restaurants and restrooms. Tell local businesses: no contracts, no services, no silent support for a system that splits families apart and makes due process optional.

This isn’t vigilantism. It’s community self-defense.

Unlawful Actions by DHS and ICE!

Such conduct, according to critics, “impedes federal law enforcement.” However, an agency loses the presumption of legitimacy when it regularly disregards the Fourth Amendment by entering houses without a warrant and the Fifth Amendment by arresting individuals without charges or access to a lawyer. ICE functions in a gray area made possible by indifference rather than legislation. Local companies become accessories to constitutional breaches every time a gas station fills an ICE van with gasoline or a restaurant provides breakfast to officers on their way to a raid, albeit unknowingly.

Although they are a beginning, sanctuary city statements are frequently symbolic. A genuine sanctuary is about the business owner who says, “Not on my property,” not about municipal hall resolutions. It’s about the community that collectively draws a line, saying, “You may have a badge, but you don’t have our consent.”

ICE has become the Enemy of The State as they are Attacking US Senators!

Others will contend that refusing service is un-American. However, it is undeniably un-American to permit a federal agency to arm local infrastructure against vulnerable neighbors while simultaneously asserting impunity. The Constitution does not cease to exist when someone’s immigration status changes, and it most certainly does not cease to exist when someone wears a DHS patch.

Moral resistance has always relied on disrupting the machinery of injustice—**not just condemning it, but starving it**—through the thousands of daily acts of ordinary people withdrawing their cooperation. History shows that oppressive regimes fall as a result of this withdrawal of cooperation, not just through courts or Congress. This withdrawal of cooperation has taken many forms, including divestment campaigns against apartheid and boycotts during the Civil Rights Movement.

ICE is an Occupying Force to Oppress The People.

Therefore, to be clear, if ICE believes that it is above the Constitution, then communities are entitled to treat it as an occupying force, using complete non-cooperation rather than violence. No sustenance. No fuel. There are no restrooms. Not at all cozy. There isn’t a cover.

Make it logistically impossible for ICE to function in your city.

Sanctuary Cities, It’s time to start defending your residents,
YOUR COMMUNITY .

Make your city a genuine haven rather than just a “sanctuary” in name.

Because justice cannot be proclaimed. We are the ones who enforce it.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Crisis de liderazgo de la alcaldesa de Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, y complicidad del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana y los imitadores de ICE (cazadores de recompensas).

Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana

Las calles de Santa Ana se han convertido en un campo de batalla por los derechos humanos fundamentales, donde los residentes viven con miedo, no de los delincuentes, sino de los cazarrecompensas armados que operan con alarmante impunidad. El silencio de la alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua y la complicidad del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD) al permitir estos secuestros violentos no solo es preocupante, sino también inaceptable.

El martes 1 de julio de 2025, surgieron múltiples informes de secuestros descarados llevados a cabo por cazarrecompensas en Main St., Warner Ave. y Edinger Ave. Los testigos describieron escenas que serían más propias de una zona de guerra que de una ciudad de EE. UU.: individuos armados agarrando a la gente en la calle, apuntando rifles de asalto, incluidas armas tipo AK-47, a civiles aterrorizados y desapareciendo con sus víctimas mientras las fuerzas del orden se quedaban de brazos cruzados sin hacer nada.

Reflexionen sobre esto: la policía no respondió. A plena luz del día, frente a agentes del Departamento de Policía de San Diego (SAPD), cazarrecompensas —agentes privados sin autoridad legal— cometieron secuestros e intimidación. Esto no es justicia. Esto no es seguridad. Es una abdicación del deber por parte de quienes juraron proteger al público.

La alcaldesa Valerie Amezcua no ha hecho declaraciones públicas, ni ha dado conferencias de prensa, ni ha reconocido la creciente crisis. ¿Dónde está su voz? ¿Dónde está su liderazgo? Si la alcaldesa no puede, o no quiere, defender la seguridad y la dignidad de los residentes de Santa Ana, no tiene derecho a dirigir esta ciudad.

Los cazarrecompensas no son agentes del orden. No operan bajo los mismos estándares de supervisión, entrenamiento ni rendición de cuentas. Sin embargo, aquí en Santa Ana, actúan como si llevaran placas: amenazan, detienen e incluso secuestran a personas sin consecuencias. Y el Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD), en lugar de intervenir para detener estos delitos, parece estar protegiéndolos.

Esto plantea serias preguntas: ¿Qué tipo de relación existe entre el SAPD y estos cazarrecompensas? ¿Estamos presenciando una colusión? ¿Existe un acuerdo informal que permite a actores corruptos imponer su propia justicia mientras se ignora la verdadera?

Los residentes de Santa Ana merecen algo mejor. Merecen un alcalde que los proteja, no que los ponga en riesgo. Merecen un departamento de policía que sirva y proteja, no que permita la violencia y las desapariciones.

Si la alcaldesa Amezcua sigue guardando silencio mientras los cazarrecompensas aterrorizan nuestros barrios, entonces sí, debería ser destituida. Su inacción no es neutral; es peligrosa. Envía el mensaje de que algunas vidas no importan, que la violencia es tolerable y que la rendición de cuentas es opcional.

Y al SAPD: su juramento fue proteger al pueblo. Al cruzarse de brazos y permitir que hombres armados secuestraran ciudadanos en la calle, rompieron ese juramento.

Exigimos al alcalde Amezcua que se dirija de inmediato al público, emita una postura clara contra estos secuestros ilegales y exija transparencia al Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD). Exigimos una investigación independiente sobre los sucesos del 1 de julio y el patrón general de actividad de cazarrecompensas en nuestra ciudad.

Ya basta. Los residentes de Santa Ana no deberían vivir con el temor de ser secuestrados por desconocidos armados mientras nuestros líderes hacen la vista gorda. Si no exigimos responsabilidades a nuestros funcionarios ahora, corremos el riesgo de perder la poca confianza que queda en nuestras instituciones y de poner vidas en mayor riesgo.

Es hora de actuar. Es hora de hacer justicia. Es hora de proteger a Santa Ana.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: A Crisis of Leadership of Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Complicity of The Santa Ana Police Department and The ICE Impersonators (Bounty Hunters).

Santa Ana Police Department

The streets of Santa Ana have become a battleground for basic human rights, where residents live in fear—not from criminals, but from armed bounty hunters operating with alarming impunity. The silence from Mayor Valerie Amezcua and the complicity of the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) in allowing these violent kidnappings to occur is not just troubling—it is unacceptable.

On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, multiple reports emerged of brazen kidnappings carried out by bounty hunters on Main St., Warner Ave., and Edinger Ave. Witnesses described scenes that would be more fitting for a war zone than a U.S. city: armed individuals grabbing people off the street, pointing assault rifles—including AK-47-style weapons—at terrified civilians, and disappearing with their victims while law enforcement stood by and did nothing.

Let that sink in: the police did not respond. In broad daylight, in front of SAPD officers, bounty hunters—private actors with no legal authority—committed acts of kidnapping and intimidation. This is not justice. This is not safety. This is an abdication of duty by those sworn to protect the public.

Mayor Valerie Amezcua has offered no public statement, no press conference, no acknowledgment of this escalating crisis. Where is her voice? Where is her leadership? If the mayor cannot—or will not—stand up for the safety and dignity of Santa Ana’s residents, she has no business leading this city.

Bounty hunters are not law enforcement. They do not operate under the same oversight, training, or accountability standards. Yet here in Santa Ana, they act as if they wear badges—threatening, detaining, and even kidnapping individuals without consequence. And the SAPD, rather than intervening to stop these crimes, appears to be shielding them.

This raises serious questions: What kind of relationship exists between the SAPD and these bounty hunters? Are we witnessing collusion? Is there an informal agreement allowing rogue actors to enforce their own brand of “justice” while real justice is ignored?

Santa Ana residents deserve better. They deserve a mayor who protects them, not puts them at risk. They deserve a police department that serves and protects—not enables violence and disappearances.

If Mayor Amezcua continues to remain silent while bounty hunters terrorize our neighborhoods, then yes—she should be recalled. Her inaction is not neutral; it is dangerous. It sends a message that some lives don’t matter, that violence is tolerable, and that accountability is optional.

And to the SAPD: your oath was to protect the people. When you stood by and allowed armed men to kidnap citizens in the street, you broke that oath.

We call on Mayor Amezcua to immediately address the public, issue a clear stance against these unlawful kidnappings, and demand transparency from the SAPD. We call for an independent investigation into the events of July 1st and the broader pattern of bounty hunters activity in our city.

Enough is enough. Santa Ana residents should not live in fear of being kidnapped by armed strangers while our leaders look the other way. If we do not hold our officials accountable now, we risk losing what little trust remains in our institutions—and putting lives at even greater risk.

It’s time for action. It’s time for justice. It’s time to protect Santa Ana.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: When Security Guards Play Cop — The Dangerous Consequences and Who’s Responsible

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.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Orange County Law Enforcement Must Verify the Identities of Alleged Federal Agents

SAPD
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.

Enough is enough.