SANTA ANA, Calif. – In a united and urgent call to action, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved three separate actions on July 1, 2025.
Resolution Documenting Immigration Enforcement Impacts and a Call for Action
The City Council approved a resolution calling for federal elected representatives to advocate for the removal of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and military from Santa Ana, support residents impacted by immigration raids, and reaffirm the City’s commitment to SB 54, the California Values Act, and its Sanctuary City policies.
While the City Council and City of Santa Ana staff do not have the direct legal authority to force ICE immigration or other federal military or civilian personnel to leave, City Council calls upon it’s federal elected representatives in congress to advocate for the people of Santa Ana to:
- End ICE immigration presence and any military or other federal enforcement personnel presence in Santa Ana assisting ICE’s immigration efforts.
- Insist that ICE immigration and federal enforcement officers comply with 8 C.F.R. 287.8(c)(iii) to ensure that such officers properly identify themselves as immigration officers who are authorized to execute an arrest and state that the person they are detaining is under arrest.
- Demand that ICE immigration cease all immigration raids at public places as such activities create fear and disruption in the community.
The resolution further documents the City’s sentiments and negative impacts as a result of the ICE immigration enforcement efforts. View full resolution here.
ICE Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request
In a separate action, the City Council directed the City Manager to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to ICE seeking records pertaining to immigration enforcement activity in Santa Ana from January 20, 2025, through July 1, 2025. The City Manager has already submitted the FOIA request on behalf of the City Council, and is pending a response. View FOIA request here.
Assistance Programs
The City Council also voted to direct the City Manager to establish an emergency assistance program for families impacted by immigration enforcement using $100,000 from the City events budget without canceling any events. The City Council also directed staff to bring back a report within 90 days on the status of the assistance fund for consideration of additional funding.
Know Your Rights
Editor’s Note – Being a Sanctuary City has backfired on Santa Ana’s undocumented residents as it has put a bullseye on the city. Will these new measures help or just attract more unwanted attention from the Trump administration?