At least 10 arrested, unlawful assembly declared after tensions flare at Santa Ana protest
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- At least 10 people were arrested after a protest against immigration raids in Orange County Monday turned chaotic and led to police declaring an unlawful assembly.
Cleanup efforts got underway Tuesday morning outside the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Santa Ana after hundreds of people took to the streets to protest the recent immigration enforcement actions.
Parts of the federal building and surrounding areas were vandalized following an anti-ICE protest.
Roughly 200 people were seen on Santa Ana Boulevard and Flower Street protesting in front of the federal building there Monday evening.
Tensions ran high as a skirmish line moved protesters down 4th Street.
Protesters threw objects - rocks, bottles, fireworks - at law enforcement as officers used tear gas and fired rubber bullets on the crowd. Footage taken around 7 p.m. shows a large crowd of demonstrators running after tear gas was deployed.
"I've seen this transform from a semi-peaceful protest, because the police were instigating early on, to what you see now an armored vehicle, all these police, a helicopter," said Mort of Santa Ana. "It's crazy. I don't think that this is warranted, because our outrage is justifiable."
An unlawful assembly was declared around 8:30 p.m. as police ordered demonstrators to disperse.
"The situation has escalated, and what began as a lawful assembly around the Civic Center Plaza, has escalated into objects being thrown towards officers and other members of the public, posing a risk to public safety, property, and the well-being of our community," the city of Santa Ana said in a statement.
"In response, federal agents have deployed less-lethal ammunition, including tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets."
The demonstrators were eventually cleared from the area. The National Guard was seen standing outside the federal building through Tuesday morning.
No officers were injured.
Meanwhile, Rep. Lou Correa, whose district includes Santa Ana, on Tuesday is expected to address what he says are ICE raids happening across Orange County, saying it is only inciting fear in the community.
"It's not us versus them, we are all part of the American fabric. We have to understand who we are before we go off and round up moms and dads who have been in this country for 20 or 30 years," Correa said.
The possibility of more ICE raids only creates more fear and uncertainty in this largely immigrant community.
"To be honest, it does spark a lot of fear. I even fear for myself. Thankfully, I'm a U.S. citizen, but to be honest, I feel like I have to walk with a passport," said Laura, a Santa Ana resident.
