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Councilmember Phan thanked the City Attorney for clarifying, stated that these <br /> questions were not due to a lack of sympathy and that she personally desires iCE out <br /> of California, Orange County, and Santa Ana, and acknowledged the difficult reality <br /> and the lack of city authority to remove ICE, Border Patrol, or the National Guard. She <br /> emphasized the city's role is to support legislators fighting for removal and to share <br /> information and resources with the community, stressed the importance of not <br /> misinforming the public about the city's limited authority, and urged solidarity rather <br /> than internal blame. She expressed hope for continued information sharing, mutual <br /> care, and support, commended the executive team, Chief, City Attorneys, and <br /> Councilmembers for ensuring protest rights, and reminded everyone to stand together <br /> against the federal government harming the community. She reflected on the emotional <br /> night and expressed her belief in the posted motto "E Pluribus Unum." <br /> Councilmember Lopez acknowledged the anger and deep sadness felt by many in the <br /> community, thanked everyone involved in community efforts, and expressed <br /> understanding of what families are experiencing, citing personal examples of her <br /> parents'fear and the anxiety reported by constituents. She urged residents to prioritize <br /> self-care and mutual safety, and highlighted the grim reality of family separations, <br /> parental detentions, and unidentified federal agents in tactical gear detaining <br /> individuals without due process. She noted the detention of children, arrest of <br /> community leaders, brutalization of journalists, targeting of legal observers, and <br /> repeated traumatization of everyday people, including those reliving past traumas. <br /> Councilmember Lopez reiterated the demand for ICE to leave neighborhoods and <br /> emphasized the need to speak up and push back against the administration, while also <br /> noting that business owners do not want the National Guard due to negative impacts <br /> on downtown Santa Ana's foot traffic. She asked regarding the plan to ensure peaceful <br /> protests without brutalization and explained she was at the June 9th protest where <br /> federal agents shot various objects into the crowd, and that Trustee Magdaleno, who <br /> was with her, was hit twice. Councilmember Lopez mentioned she heard the Chief <br /> speak about federal agents calling for support. <br /> Police Chief Rodriguez confirmed federal agents had contacted Santa Ana Police for <br /> support, including to get vehicles in to extract federal staff from their building. In <br /> response to Councilmember Lopez, Police Chief Rodriguez noted that such assistance <br /> did not conflict with the sanctuary ordinance because the request was for assistance <br /> for another law enforcement agency, not for the arrest or detainment of anyone based <br /> on immigration status. <br /> City Attorney Carvalho stated there were two separate issues: the Sanctuary City <br /> ordinance and the California Values Act protect individuals from federal agencies in <br /> detaining or investigating immigrants. She clarified the police department provides <br /> "safety assistance" to anyone, regardless of who calls, and that the call from federal <br /> agents was for assistance for people feeling unsafe in the Federal building, not for <br /> arrests, detentions, or deportation hearings related to immigrants. City Attorney <br /> Carvalho then reminded the council that while she was happy to answer questions, she <br /> would be mindful of the Brown Act, which allows for clarifying questions but not a <br /> debate since the item was not agendized. in response to an inquiry by MayorAmezcua, <br /> City Attorney Carvalho confirmed that brief questions were permissible, but not a "back <br /> CITY COUNCIL 23 JUNE 17, 2025 <br />