Orange County officials gathered on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, to denounce the ongoing activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security in Orange County communities. The rally, led by 2nd District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, took place on the steps of the Old Orange County Courthouse, where school board trustees, city council members, and local activists demanded the withdrawal of the National Guard and voiced concerns over the pervasive fear created by ICE’s actions.

Sandra De Anda, a representative from the Orange County Rapid Response Network (OCRRN), stated, “Since Trump’s inauguration, the Rapid Response Network has documented a rise in targeted arrests.” The OCRRN is a coalition focused on immigrant rights and monitoring law enforcement, comprising service providers, community organizations, and attorneys.

Recent data from Syracuse University, reported by the BBC, estimates that 51,302 individuals were detained by ICE as of June 1, 2025, with 44% having no criminal records apart from their immigration status. The criticism of ICE operations appears to be influencing federal actions, with reports indicating an increase in criminal apprehensions. Supervisor Sarmiento pointed out a troubling shift, saying, “Federal agents have departed from President Trump’s stated goals of apprehending dangerous criminals and drug traffickers. They are now accosting and apprehending everyday workers struggling to take care of their families.”

Councilwoman Jessie Lopez of Santa Ana shared a poignant account of the impact on the community, stating, “This morning I woke up to messages from kids asking me, pleading to help find their fathers who had not come home last night. This is the fight of our lives.”

Garden Grove Unified School District Trustee Walter Muneton emphasized the negative consequences of fear on education, remarking, “Students cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear.”

The event included a march led by Santa Ana City Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez from the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse to the press conference site, which attracted hundreds of attendees. Supporters, including members of the Union of Professional and Technical Employees and United Domestic Workers, showed solidarity for the cause.

Tensions flared at the federal courthouse, with protesters clashing over the presence of troops and extremist agitators. Union organizer and Marine Corps veteran Salvador Abrica was mistakenly identified as a federal agent by a protester based on his attire, highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the event.

The fight against ICE operations in Orange County continues as local leaders and community members rally for change.