Immigration Protests Spread To Ornge County In Cal

LOS ANGELES, CA (IANS) – Protests against immigration raids in Santa Ana, Orange County, on the night of June 9 led to several injuries and arrests after demonstrators clashed with federal agents and local police.

The unrest followed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids conducted earlier that day targeting day laborers waiting for work, according to Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento.

Around 200 protesters gathered outside a federal building in downtown Santa Ana, which houses ICE offices, to demonstrate against the raids. The situation escalated when law enforcement deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets into the crowd.

Dylan Carranca, 23, of Fullerton, told the Orange County Register he witnessed multiple tear gas canisters thrown into the crowd. “We were just standing there. I didn’t see anything get thrown by our side, and then all of a sudden, we saw three get thrown. One on the right, one in the middle and one on the left. I saw one land and I took off running,” Carranca said, describing how his eyes turned red from the gas exposure.

A nurse volunteering at the scene reported that several people were treated for injuries caused by rubber bullets.

The Santa Ana Police Department confirmed the use of tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets, stating that US Attorney Bill Essayli requested city assistance as federal agents were overwhelmed at the federal building.

Santa Ana City Councilmember Jessie Lopez challenged that claim, telling Voice of OC, “Overrun? That’s a lie.”

Local media reported several arrests during the clashes, with charges including setting off fireworks and throwing objects at officers.

Lopez also noted that the city’s jails were used over the weekend of June 6–8, 2025, to hold those arrested in related Los Angeles protests under a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service.