Federal deportation efforts appear to be ramping up in Orange County as immigrant advocates and city officials report an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. In cities like Anaheim and Santa Ana, there is growing concern over alleged violations of constitutional rights during these operations.
USC professor and immigrant advocacy volunteer Jody Vallejo expressed her concerns, stating that ICE’s actions are “inhumane” and violate due process rights. Vallejo, along with colleagues from the OC Rapid Response Network, an immigrant advocacy group, have noted that federal agents are “casting nets that ensnare legal residents and United States citizens.”
The uptick in enforcement follows a period when President Donald Trump’s administration focused deportation efforts on other cities like Chicago and New York City. According to an update on Anaheim’s city website, recent raids have targeted places like the Euclid Car Wash, with federal agents reportedly conducting broader enforcement operations throughout the county.
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken of Anaheim stated that the city is unaware of when deportation activities will occur, but emphasized the importance of collaboration between public safety, activists, and neighborhood leaders. Anaheim has joined a federal lawsuit challenging some of ICE’s enforcement tactics, alleging racial profiling and constitutional rights violations.
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided specific details about these roving enforcement efforts but reported that since June 2025, ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have arrested over 7,100 individuals in the Los Angeles area. The agency offered individuals the choice to leave voluntarily with a $1,000 incentive or face arrest and removal without the ability to return legally.
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