Most Orange County Cities Choose Silence Over Support Amid ICE Raids

The recent wave of ICE raids sweeping through Orange County has exposed a stark divide in local government responses. Despite growing demands from residents to protect immigrant neighbors, most city councils have chosen silence over action. A Voice of OC investigation found that 24 out of 34 cities in the county have taken no official steps in the past year to address or mitigate the impact of federal immigration enforcement.

Only a handful of cities have risen to the occasion. Anaheim leads with detailed daily updates on immigration enforcement activities and an immigrant legal aid fund to support affected families. Santa Ana stands as the county’s sole sanctuary city, collaborating with the Orange County Rapid Response Network to provide $400,000 in aid and reform the U-Visa program, which grants temporary legal status to crime victims willing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Sandra De Anda, policy director at the Orange County Rapid Response Network, says the silence from most city councils is no surprise given persistent anti-immigrant attitudes in the region. “There are very few cities to even have policies with the word immigrant in them throughout all of Orange County,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Huntington Beach has openly sided with ICE, declaring itself a “non-sanctuary city” and pledging cooperation with federal agents. Other cities like Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Buena Park, Fullerton, and Stanton have limited their response to providing informational resources only.

Santa Ana’s commitment extends beyond aid funds. The city was the first in the county to join a lawsuit challenging former Homeland Security head Kristi Noem’s aggressive tactics that allowed stops and raids without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, raising concerns over racial profiling. Though the Supreme Court ultimately sided with the Trump administration, Santa Ana officials vow to continue defending immigrant residents.

Paul Eakins, Santa Ana’s city spokesperson, emphasized, “The City of Santa Ana is committed to protecting the dignity, safety, and rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status.”

The contrast between cities actively supporting immigrants and those choosing inaction or opposition highlights a troubling pattern: local governments in Orange County often fail to stand up against federal overreach and protect civil rights. As deportation raids continue, the silence of most city councils speaks volumes about whose interests they prioritize—and whose they ignore.