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CITY COUNCIL 18 MAY 20, 2025 <br />Councilmember Phan asked for clarification regarding the type of information <br />received when notified from DHS and ICE, specifically whether the type of activity <br />is enforcement, investigation, or immigration related, and asked whether there is a <br />risk related to funding, how the current administration is interpreting the term <br />“interference” with immigration enforcement, whether employees, councilmembers, <br />and the community could face repercussions for releasing information, whether the <br />city can protect its employees, and whether there is a need to have a closed session <br />discussion regarding these risks, including the potential for litigation and its <br />associated costs. <br />Mayor Amezcua asked for clarification regarding the definition of a courtesy call, <br />echoed Councilmember Phan’s comments, and asked whether the City of Santa <br />Ana would be liable should a City Council member receive information and choose <br />to release information to the community using their personal devices. <br />Chief Rodriguez stated a courtesy call is given by the outside agency when they will <br />be in the area in order to avoid compromising each other’s investigations, and stated <br />that there is no additional details given on the investigation. <br />Councilmember Lopez requested a report be provided to Council stating the <br />number of courtesy calls the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) has received <br />and responded to since 2018. <br />Councilmember Penaloza asked for clarification regarding the 42 courtesy calls <br />received related to ICE incidents and asked regarding the criteria for receiving <br />federal grants, including those received from DHS. <br />Chief Rodriguez stated, of the 42 courtesy calls, about 15 of them were ICE related. <br />Councilmember Bacerra echoed Councilmember Phan’s questions and concerns. <br />Councilmember Hernandez stated the policy would focus on transparency and <br />communicating information to the public but stated the information would not be <br />released if there is a warrant attached or the release of information would obstruct <br />an active investigation. <br />Councilmember Phan asked whether state law requires the Santa Ana Police <br />Department or any local police department to comply with a judicial warrant from <br />ICE or DHS, clarification regarding the information provided to SAPD by other <br />agencies, and asked regarding other transparency initiatives SAPD has taken <br />including the publishing of firearm seizures. <br />Chief Rodriguez clarified that judicial warrants are mandated to make an arrest and <br />administrative warrants are covered under SB 54. He explained that the firearms <br />seizures are only published when they are not part of an ongoing investigation and <br />are usually after the fact that the firearms are seized. <br />City Attorney Sonia Carvalho confirmed the information would be provided to <br />Council although no formal policy would be drafted yet.