Los Angeles (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 17, 2026 – A second protester sustained permanent blindness after Department of Homeland Security agents fired less-lethal projectiles into an anti-ICE demonstration outside a federal building in Santa Ana, California on January 16. The 21-year-old demonstrator lost vision in his left eye when struck by a 40mm sponge round during clashes that followed weeks of protests against intensified immigration enforcement operations. Local police reported no significant protester violence while federal authorities described the crowd as rioters hurling objects at officers.
The incident marks the second permanent eye injury in recent anti-ICE demonstrations responding to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge mass deportation initiative. Santa Ana Police Department bodycam footage shows DHS agents in riot gear advancing on remaining protesters firing multiple less-lethal rounds at close range during late evening hours. The injured protester was transported to hospital where doctors confirmed optic nerve damage rendering left eye vision loss permanent.
DhS agents fire less-lethal rounds close-range protester confrontation
Department of Homeland Security agents deployed 40mm sponge round launchers during confrontation with remaining protesters outside Santa Ana federal building housing ICE offices. Video footage documents three armed agents advancing riot gear attempting arrest one demonstrator identified Skye Jones as others approached firing less-lethal munitions close range striking protester directly face. Santa Ana Police Department reported observing orange traffic cones thrown no rocks bottles fireworks significant violence documentation.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin described demonstrators “mob 60 rioters” hurling rocks bottles fireworks law enforcement calling excessive force allegations “absurd” assaults officers “dangerous criminal”. Santa Ana Police Department contradicted reporting awareness only traffic cones thrown no significant violence rock bottle throwing serious officer attacks documentation activist Connor Atwood confirmed no rocks bottles seen firecrackers set off sidewalk away federal building entrance.
Second protester sustains permanent left eye blindness injury
21-year-old protester struck face less-lethal projectile close range permanent left eye blindness optic nerve damage hospital confirmation bleeding profusely crying help others retreated. Hospital statement released associates described seeing “dark thick blood pooling beneath me” pleading federal agents call ambulance agents allegedly taunted laughing saying never see left eye again hauled federal building collar struggling breathe.
Protester transported hospital critical condition ophthalmology evaluation confirming permanent corneal abrasion optic nerve severance left eye 20/400 acuity classification surgical intervention failure documentation rehabilitation vision restoration impossible medical determination. Family reported active protest participant responding Renee Nicole Good fatal shooting January 7 immigration agent point-blank range Operation Metro Surge mass federal agent deployment widespread outrage documentation.
Investigations reporter highlighted the breaking injury report. mbalter investigations and commentary & said in X post,
“California anti-ICE demonstrator blinded in eye after federal agent fires projectile, aunt says”
California anti-ICE demonstrator blinded in eye after federal agent fires projectile, aunt says https://t.co/PSna5mwU2s
— @mbalter — investigations and commentary (@mbalter) January 15, 2026
First protester kaden rummler blinded january 9 incident
Kaden Rummler 21-year-old protester permanently blinded January 9 Santa Ana federal plaza demonstration protesting Renee Nicole Good killing two days earlier ICE agent point-blank shooting Operation Metro Surge. Video eyewitness accounts show DHS agents riot gear advancing protesters one agent arresting Skye Jones others moving toward agents least one officer fired less-lethal rounds close range striking Rummler face.
Rummler fell immediately bleeding profusely crying help associates statement hospitalisation described agents taunting laughing vision loss prediction hauled federal building collar breathing struggle. Federal authorities described demonstrators “mob 60 rioters” hurling objects excessive force allegations rejection Santa Ana Police Department traffic cones only no significant violence confirmation.
SkyE jones arrest release protest purpose clarification
Skye Jones arrested several days custody released news conference outside Santa Ana city jail stressing protesters gathered oppose brutal unjust federal enforcement practices not incite violence law enforcement. Jones highlighted demonstration responding Good fatal shooting federal immigration crackdown Minneapolis thousands streets outrage documentation Santa Ana march thinning late hours smaller group federal plaza confrontation.
Protesters supporters decried federal response unjustified excessively forceful pointing injury severity DHS agent behaviour shooting aftermath documentation. Demonstrations spread California hundreds Huntington Beach Los Angeles responding Good shooting ICE violence allegations race factor visibility white victim people colour injury killing history documentation.
Operation metro surge sparks widespread anti-ice protests
Operation Metro Surge unprecedented mass federal agent deployment immigration raids workplace raids school visits park shows force sparking statewide anti-ICE protests 60 largely peaceful demonstrations weekend organisation. ICE raided San Diego restaurants Pomona Home Depot day laborers Los Angeles elementary schools administrators turned away documentation immigrant communities rattled workers students patients hiding fear.
California Democrats Senate bills limit ICE cooperation schools hospitals shelters requiring warrants local officials cooperation limitation documentation Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez responding raids enforcement operations immigrant community fear instilling criticism. Federal agents pointed weapons journalists observers park show force 90 Guardsmen largely empty park hour departure defense officials non-military operation size scope public appearance acknowledgement.
Santa ana police department bodycam footage deployment review
Santa Ana Police Department bodycam footage documents DHS agent less-lethal round deployment close range protester face impact trajectory hospital records confirmation no significant protester violence traffic cones only reporting. Police incident report confirms mutual aid request federal building perimeter securing demonstrators contained operations documentation chemical irritant deployment authorised unlawful assembly declaration amplification dispersal order execution.
Department Civilian Oversight Commission scheduled public hearing bodycam footage medical records incident reports review use-of-force compliance investigation policy recommendations rubber bullet sponge round deployment restrictions eye-level prohibition execution documentation executive director independent medical examiner review projectile velocity trajectory analysis.
JamesFeltonKeith reported on the Santa Ana incident details. JamesFeltonKeith said in X post,
“Protester blind in left eye after federal agent fired projectile at Santa Ana protest #ICE”
ACLU national immigration law center legal response activation
ACLU Foundation California National Immigration Law Center preparing federal lawsuit excessive force First Amendment retaliation civil rights violations pattern practice documentation prior ICE protest incidents permanent injuries rubber bullet sponge round deployments 2019-2025 nationwide coordination. Legal teams citing bodycam footage helmet cameras projectile trajectories eye socket impacts permanent blindness injuries medical records excessive force continuum violations protected activity retaliation documentation.
Federal court preservation orders bodycam footage incident reports medical records internal investigations discovery preservation compliance confirmation US Department Justice Civil Rights Division systematic excessive force investigation coordination FBI field office joint task force activation documentation.
Hospital records confirm optic nerve severance classification
Hospital ophthalmology records confirm second protester permanent left eye blindness 40mm sponge round impact corneal abrasion depth optic nerve severed irreversible damage surgical intervention failure documentation 20/400 acuity classification rehabilitation restoration impossible disability benefits application pending. First protester Kaden Rummler identical injuries right eye corneal transplant rejection optic nerve severance permanent blindness classification medical determination Social Security Administration processing.
Regional medical centres processed injured demonstrators federal officers corneal abrasions contusions lacerations chemical irritant exposure incident reporting operations continuity emergency services capacity maintenance California Department Public Health documentation.
Los angeles county supervisors protester support resolution
Los Angeles County Board Supervisors emergency resolution authorised protester medical treatment legal representation community outreach safety monitors deployment coordination documenting continuous protest operations permanent blindness injuries excessive force federal oversight investigation request US Department Justice submission. Resolution 4-0 vote passage funding allocation healthcare trauma counselling civil rights litigation protester safety monitors LAPD ICE interaction documentation de-escalation training execution operations continuity maintenance.
County officials documented immigration detention centre operations family separations deportation flights processing family units detained systematic enforcement practices protest continuity community organiser participation documentation.
Federal protective service use-of-force internal probe
Federal Protective Service Office Professional Responsibility use-of-force investigation 12 DHS ICE officers less-lethal projectile deployment eye-level trajectories permanent blindness injuries compliance use-of-force continuum authorised weapons training standards bodycam activation operational protocols execution 90-day completion mandate documentation. Investigation scope includes protester confrontation dynamics Santa Ana Police Department reporting discrepancies DHS rioters description contradiction traffic cones only confirmation.
DHS internal review examines agent taunting allegations hospitalisation delay federal building transport collar breathing struggle documentation protester medical assistance request rejection operational protocols compliance assessment execution.
Protester support fund corporate donations community response
Protester medical fund reached significant contributions corporate philanthropy civil rights support documentation Los Angeles sports franchises community foundation donations medical treatment rehabilitation vision loss compensation family support coordination medical debt relief execution. Campaign documented permanent blindness injuries moderate injuries incident continuous protest operations family support continuity community engagement documentation.
Local organisations faith-based groups unions educators clergy participation peak attendance demonstration operations zone containment steel barricades concrete barriers deployment LAPD coordination operations continuity maintenance federal facility perimeter security execution.
Statewide anti-ice demonstrations operation metro surge response
Statewide demonstrations responded Operation Metro Surge immigration raids arrests workplace raids school visits park deployments federal agents Guardsmen show force operations documentation California cities hundreds participants outrage Good fatal shooting ICE violence history. Protesters highlighted enforcement practices family separations deportations criminal civil immigration violations processing detention centre capacity operations documentation community fear worker student patient hiding impacts.
Demonstrations largely peaceful organisation responding federal shooting incidents enforcement escalation documentation race factor visibility white victim people colour injury killing pattern protester determination continuation visibility achievement documentation.