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CITY COUNCIL 22 JUNE 17, 2025 <br />COUNCIL COMMENTS <br />AB1234 DISCLOSURE – If the City paid for travel or other expenses this is the time for <br />members of the Council to provide a brief oral report on attendance of any regional board <br />or commission meeting or any conference, meeting or event attended. <br /> <br />MINUTES: Councilmember Phan thanked everyone who spoke. She questioned staff <br />about whether the City had made any requests for federal immigrat ion or border <br />security agencies to be present in the city, whether the City had collaborated with the <br />National Guard or specifically asked for their presence, raised concerns regarding <br />reports of community members being detained by unidentified individuals who were <br />presumed to be immigration agents, asked for clarification regarding a phone call the <br />City Attorney received from the U.S. Attorney related to the City assisting in securing <br />the federal building, and whether the City Attorney had previously received a direct call <br />from the U.S. Attorney. <br /> <br />City Manager Alvaro Nuñez confirmed the City had not made any requests for the <br />agencies to be present in Santa Ana. Police Chief Robert Rodriguez confirmed the City <br />had neither requested the National Guard's presence nor collaborated with their efforts. <br />City Attorney Sonia Carvalho confirmed the City had received such calls before, but <br />none were related to immigration; they were for other ongoing investigations. <br /> <br />Councilmember Phan inquired regarding the essence of the U.S. Attorney's message, <br />stating she understood that it was a threat about sending in the National Guard if the <br />city did not help clear the federal building and requested clarification about the use of <br />the term “overrun.” <br /> <br />City Manager Nuñez responded that the U.S. Attorney requested help and assistance <br />for federal agents and staff and that it was the U.S. Attorney that used the term <br />“overrun." <br /> <br />In response to Councilmember Phan, Police Chief Rodriguez confirmed that City police <br />officers secured the federal building's sidewalks in an effort to prevent the National <br />Guard from being deployed to Santa Ana; to which Councilmember Phan noted that <br />the National Guard was deployed anyway and she asked the City Attorney if there was <br />any law the city council could use to remove ICE from Santa Ana. <br /> <br />City Attorney Carvalho stated the city has no authority to prevent ICE from operating <br />within its boundaries. <br /> <br />Councilmember Phan stated the city lacks any legal means to prohibit or remove ICE <br />from Santa Ana, noting that if it were possible, Los Angeles would have already done <br />so, and asked whether the city had any authority to remove Border Patrol. <br /> <br />City Attorney Carvalho confirmed that the city does not have the authority to remove <br />Border Patrol or the National Guard, noting that even the Governor, with significantly <br />more power and the support of the California Attorney General, has been unsuccessful <br />in forcing the National Guard out of the state. <br />