06.09.2025 | 11:00 PM | SANTA ANA – Downtown Santa Ana was the scene of chaotic and at times violent protests tonight, as hundreds gathered to demonstrate against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions that reportedly led to detentions across the city, including at local Home Depot stores.
The protest, which began earlier in the evening, escalated dramatically as agitators within the crowd began to launch fireworks and throw bottles at law enforcement officers. This turn to violence prompted a significant response from authorities.
Dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies across Orange County, augmented by units of the National Guard, rapidly deployed to the downtown area. Their immediate objective was to secure the area and establish skirmish lines to manage the volatile crowd.
As the situation intensified, some protesters engaging in violent acts were targeted with less-lethal munitions, including 40MM rounds and PepperBall projectiles, in an effort to disperse them and quell the aggression.
As of late Monday night, it remained unclear whether any arrests had been made or if any injuries were sustained by either protesters or law enforcement personnel. Authorities have yet to release official statements on the total number of individuals involved, the extent of any property damage, or detailed accounts of the incidents that led to the use of less-lethal force.
