Records offer glimpse into Santa Ana's response to June 2025 protests, but key questions remain

[reporting: 4th and Main Street]

After months of tested patience for outcome of several public records requests, The Santanero has obtained a partial set of records offering a glimpse into how Santa Ana officials responded to federal immigration raids and protests across the city in June 2025.

The records come amid growing criticism of city leadership and declining public trust in the Santa Ana Police Department following its response to the protests, its involvement in arrests of people observing ICE operations, and a separate incident in which two officers were recorded beating of Florentino Lopez, who appeared not to fight back.

Among the materials obtained are text messages between City Council members and City Manager Alvaro Nuñez, along with a recording of Mayor Valerie Amezcua's full ABC7 interview provided during a December 2025 meeting with city staff.

While the records offer insight into officials' discussions and decisions during that week, significant questions remain about June 12, when Santa Ana police fired rubber bullets toward protesters shortly after midnight without first issuing a dispersal warning, which was hardly mentioned in a June 11, 2025 AB 48 report.

More than 16 months later, The Santanero has yet to obtain requested body-worn camera footage and other police records that could help establish why officers used force, whether it was warranted, and what actions followed.

See original coverage here.

Councilmembers raised concerns behind the scenes

The text messages, obtained after three attempts to secure the records since mid-2025, show councilmembers communicating with Nuñez as protests unfolded.

On June 12, Councilmember David Penaloza forwarded The Santanero's reporting about police firing rubber bullets toward protesters without first issuing a dispersal warning.

"City Manager, this is not ok. Please have all information regarding this alleged incident ready to discuss during our Agenda Review today," Penaloza wrote.

After reviewing The Santanero's livestream footage, he followed up:

"The video seems to backup what is alleged in the first post I sent you. If this is indeed true, I hope we investigate and address it."

Penaloza separately raised concerns about an alleged confrontation involving an officer and a journalist.

"These are the types of incidents that ruin our Police Department's credibility and trust with our community," he wrote.

The messages establish that the allegations reached city leadership within hours. They do not show whether an investigation followed or what the police chief reported back to Nuñez.

Councilmember Jessie Lopez also questioned the city's response as immigration raids began.

On June 9, she asked Nuñez about issuing a citywide statement.

"It's necessary. and it shouldn't include one voice. It should be a statement directly from the City," Lopez wrote.

Another June 9 message shows Councilmember Phil Bacerra requesting that graffiti be cleared before Civic Center employees returned to work.

Councilmember Benjamin Vazquez also sent inquires to Nuñez.

Amezcua explains her absence from protests

A recording provided during The Santanero's December 2025 meeting with city staff offered additional context about Mayor Valerie Amezcua's response to the protests and her decision not to join demonstrators in person.

Watch KABC's broadcast interview.

During the interview, Amezcua acknowledged that she could have attended the demonstrations but questioned what her presence would accomplish. She described focusing instead on actions she believed were within her authority as mayor, given the limits of the city's ability to intervene in federal immigration enforcement.

The interview followed criticism of Amezcua's response to the raids, including statements published on Facebook.

Amezcua also attributed her departure from Congressmember Lou Correa's June 10, 2025, press conference to interview requests from KNBC, KVEA and KCAL.

The Santanero contacted those news organizations to seek confirmation but had not received responses by publication.

Following the press conference, The Santanero attempted to speak with Amezcua. When asked about her whereabouts, city Public Information Officer Paul Eakins said he did not know where the mayor was at that moment.

Amezcua's calendar did not show a scheduled interview with channel four, nine or 52 and rather had a scheduled meeting with City Attorney Sonia Carvalho, City Manager Nuñez, Councilmember Phil Bacerra and Police Chief Robert Rodriguez.

No interviews with the three outlets had been publicly announced at the time. Although media interviews involving city officials are often coordinated through communications staff, The Santanero could not independently establish whether Eakins had been informed of any arrangements or where the mayor went after leaving the event.

The Santanero asked Eakins when a joint-press conference with the City and police department would occur and he said no press conferences were scheduled to occur, signaling where the City's communications to residents stood on June 10.

The Santanero had also contacted Amezcua on June 9 through messages that were left on read and received no response.

Amezcua's public response to the raids, along with the city's handling of the demonstrations, drew criticism during hours of public comments at the June 17 City Council meeting.

City officials respond

The Santanero contacted all seven councilmembers, Nuñez, the police chief, and SAPD's Public Information Officer for comment given some updates to our records requests. Only Lopez and Nuñez responded by publication.

Asked whether the city's initial communication was sufficient, Lopez replied:

"No. One press release was not enough."

Lopez said she pushed to reconvene the city's Sanctuary Advisory Board and that Know Your Rights information was added to the city's website at her office's request.

"This was an emergency, and the City had a responsibility to communicate with the public, provide accurate information, and make sure residents knew their rights and where to turn for help," she said.

She also criticized the department's conduct during the demonstrations.

"The behavior of the Santa Ana Police Department was sickening. We have a constitutional right to peacefully assemble and protest without being subjected to unnecessary force or intimidation," Lopez said.

Nuñez offered a different assessment, emphasizing the challenges police face when balancing public safety and constitutional rights.

"Generally speaking, law enforcement's response to demonstrations requires a measured, deliberate, and appropriately coordinated approach," he wrote.

He cited city social media updates, its Know Your Rights website, the Ayuda Sin Fronteras assistance program, and a subsequent police chief presentation to the City Council.

Nuñez did not directly answer whether he considered the city's response sufficient, whether he had regrets, or what the police chief told him after Penaloza raised concerns about June 12.

Records remain outstanding

The Santanero has sought approximately 40 categories of records related to the protests and the city's response, with some requests dating back to August 2025.

During a December 2025 City Council meeting, The Santanero raised concerns about outstanding requests. Councilmembers subsequently directed staff to address the matter, leading to a meeting with city officials.

The city has provided some responsive material while citing exemptions involving attorney-client privilege, legal work product prepared in anticipation of litigation, and personal privacy for certain withholdings or redactions.

Under California's Public Records Act, agencies generally are not required to provide a document-by-document inventory of withheld records. Consequently, the city's responses have not made clear which additional requested materials, if any, are being withheld.

"I believe the city is providing all legal permissible records associated with your request. Some records may have been withheld due to potential civil litigation," Nuñez wrote.

He did not specify which records were affected or whether the June 12 incident was connected to potential litigation. Nuñez also said the city had received council approval to hire additional staff to help process public records requests.

Questions remain about the preservation of police footage, internal communications, and other records from June 2025, including whether the City Council will consider a formal preservation directive.

The Santanero will continue pursuing outstanding requests and reporting on additional records as they become available.