SANTA ANA, Calif. — A protest in Southern California ended with a demonstrator seriously injured following a confrontation with federal agents outside a government building, raising new questions about the use of force during immigration-related demonstrations.
The incident occurred late Friday night outside the Santa Ana Federal Building, where a protest had been held in support of Renee Good, a Minnesota woman who was fatally shot by an immigration agent. While the demonstration was largely peaceful earlier in the evening, tensions escalated after most participants had left.
Video footage captured by a freelance photographer shows chaotic scenes as federal agents moved toward a small group gathered on the building’s steps. In the video, loud bangs consistent with less-lethal munitions can be heard, though NBC Los Angeles said it could not independently verify what led up to the confrontation.
One clip shows a man holding a megaphone struggling briefly with authorities as additional rounds appeared to be fired. Moments later, another man — later identified by friends only as “K” — is seen kneeling face down on the ground. Federal agents then grab him by the collar and drag him into the building. His face appears visibly bloodied in the footage.
Friends of the injured protester said Tuesday that K sustained a severe injury to one of his eyes. According to Rue el Amar, a close friend, he was hospitalized and is expected to undergo surgery, though doctors are uncertain whether he will regain vision in the injured eye.
In a statement read aloud by his friend, K described the moment he was hurt. “I heard a bang, and suddenly I was on my knees,” the statement said. “Everything happened so fast that it was all a blur.”
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that two federal officers were injured during the incident and said two protesters were arrested. Authorities stated the charges include assault on a federal officer and disorderly conduct.
When asked specifically about K’s injuries, DHS offered a different account, saying one individual arrested for disorderly conduct was treated at a hospital for a cut and released later that night.
Local officials said they are seeking additional information but acknowledged challenges in obtaining details from federal agencies. Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said communication between federal and local authorities has been limited.
“Historically, we’ve worked closely with federal agencies, but that coordination appears to be lacking right now,” Sarmiento said. “That makes it harder to fully understand what happened.”
The Santa Ana Police Department confirmed it did not take part in the operation or the arrests.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions nationwide over immigration enforcement and federal responses to protests. Video of the confrontation has circulated widely online, prompting renewed scrutiny of crowd-control tactics and accountability during demonstrations involving federal law enforcement.
