The Santa Ana City Council directed city staff to prepare analysis and recommendations on publicly posting notifications from federal immigration and homeland security agencies after more than 40 members of the public urged the council to increase transparency and improve community notice.

The move, introduced by Councilmember Fernández and supported by Vice Mayor Vázquez, responds to repeated public comments that the city should notify residents when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security operates in Santa Ana. The discussion also included calls from multiple speakers for the police department to release information and body‑camera footage related to the Dec. 1 killing of Noé Rodríguez and for disciplinary action against the officers involved.

Councilmember Fernández said the city had received 42 notifications and argued that sharing those notices publicly would help residents make safety decisions. “ICE se ha comunicado 42 diferentes ocasiones,” Fernández said during council discussion, adding that the city should publish the notifications in a way that complies with the law.

Why it matters: speakers and council members framed the proposal as both a public‑safety and civil‑rights issue for a city with a large immigrant population. Many public commenters said the community lives in fear of deportation and that timely, multilingual notices would reduce harm. Survivors and relatives of people killed in police actions sought quicker release of investigative materials and greater accountability from the police department.

Council direction and legal caution

City staff and the city attorney told the council they must balance transparency with legal constraints and the safety of law enforcement investigations. Police Chief Rodríguez said the department must follow federal and state law and vowed not to violate legal requirements, while stressing officer safety and the integrity of criminal investigations.

“Definitivamente no cooperamos con ICE…pero también tengo que asegurar que no comprometo la seguridad de la comunidad,” Chief Rodríguez told the council, describing the tension between transparency and ongoing investigations.

Council members debated timing and scope. Several asked staff to return quickly with a legal memo and an implementation plan; city attorneys said parts of the information could require confidential treatment or a closed‑session review because of litigation risks and investigative sensitivity. Councilmembers discussed a 30‑ to 45‑day target for staff to return with analysis; staff indicated they would aim to provide a memo and recommended next steps to the council as soon as legally possible.

Public demands tied to police shooting

A steady stream of speakers during the public‑comment period linked the transparency demand to the December police shooting of Noé Rodríguez. Family members and community organizers demanded the immediate release of body‑camera footage and full investigatory reports, and asked the council to remove the officers involved from patrol.

Erika Armenta, who identified herself as the wife of Noé Rodríguez, asked why her husband was given commands only in English when he spoke only Spanish and said department records and videos have been withheld: “Han mentido…no nos han dado los videos de las cámaras corporales,” Armenta said during public comment. Multiple speakers called for the dismissal of the officers named in the case and for the city to provide timely updates to the public.

Next steps

Councilmembers instructed the city manager and city attorney to prepare written analysis of legal risks, recommended notification procedures and operational impacts; staff also was asked to provide examples of how other California cities handle federal agency notices. Council members discussed whether portions of that analysis should be provided in closed session because of potential litigation risks.

The council did not adopt a final ordinance or policy at the meeting; instead it directed staff to return with the requested legal review and implementation options for further council consideration.

Ending

Several council members said they want to move quickly but carefully. Councilmember Fernández summarized the audience’s tenor: residents want timely information and protections that align with federal and state law. The council’s next formal consideration will depend on the legal memo and staff recommendations scheduled to come back to the council for follow‑up.