Mater Dei 'drone operation' hints at SAPD's tactics in protest dispersal; Brennan clarifies they're not working with ICE but a donor and alumni say that's not enough

An anonymous donor to Mater Dei High School has withdrawn support after learning that President Michael Brennan allowed Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) and other unidentified local law enforcement agencies to use the school campus as a staging area Tuesday for "drone operations." As of now, SAPD has not clarified the purpose or scope of these operations.

According to eyewitness accounts and reporting by The Santanero, a drone was consistently observed at this week's demonstrations, typically appearing shortly before police arrived, hinting at tactics SAPD may use for protest dispersal. This pattern has been noted repeatedly: peaceful protest → drone → police arrive → faceoff.

In response to the incident, two prominent alumnae from the Class of 2005—Roshell Amezcua, Esq., and Leslie Arreola, founder of Latinx Parenting—have launched an alumni initiative. Their goal is to gather signatures for a formal letter to school administrators, scheduled to be delivered on Monday.

The letter strongly condemns Mater Dei’s decision to provide support for a police drone staging site. According to the letter, it expresses grave concerns about the normalization of militarized policing, especially within educational environments, emphasizing its harmful effects on Black and brown students and communities.

Comments on Arreola’s letter post has many agreeing that it was the wrong decision made.

“Not very ‘love thy neighbor’ of them.” one commenter said.

On Tuesday, the day the operation occurred, President Brennan defended the decision by stating:

“Our partnership with SAPD reflects our ongoing support for the City of Santa Ana and its efforts to maintain public safety.”

A part of the letter stated, "By inviting the Santa Ana Police Department and other law enforcement agencies onto their campus for the specific purpose of a 'staging site for drone operations,' you not only put Black and brown youth at risk of harm, you send the message that Mater Dei is not a sacred place of learning and education."

In a follow-up statement issued Wednesday, Brennan also addressed growing community concerns amid ongoing federal immigration raids. He announced that Mater Dei Chapel would be opened to the public as a space for prayer and support during difficult times.

He further clarified that:

• Mater Dei is not working with ICE.
• ICE has never been on campus.
• The school remains committed to the safety of its students, staff, and parents.

On Wednesday, The Santanero reached out to SAPD Public Information Officer Natalie Garcia to inquire about the drone operations' logistics. No response was received.

"I am disgusted and have stopped all donations to them. This is not ok at all." the anonymous donor said.

However, additional questions were sent via email to Santa Ana City Public Information Officer Paul Eakins. At present, The Santanero has submitted a total of 70 questions. A response is expected by Friday evening, unless a press conference is scheduled beforehand.