Records show federal immigration officials have been active in three OC cities as federal agents recently arrested people at immigration court in Santa Ana, prompting debate on whether local officials should disclose ICE courtesy calls.
Author Archives: Hosam Elattar
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC/ Report For America reporter covering Anaheim & North Orange County, food insecurity, housing & homelessness, the Arab & Muslim American community and education.
Elattar started at Voice of OC as an intern in January, 2020 and has covered local food banks’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, School board debates on how to teach history, the decades long push by Arab American business owners to recognize Little Arabia and a corruption scandal at Anaheim City Hall.
He has won several awards from the OC Press Club including Best News Story, Best Political Story and Best Religion Story.
Elattar is Egyptian American and has lived in Botswana, Nepal, Uganda, The Dominican Republic and India.
Posted inHuntington Beach
How Did OC’s Most MAGA City Council End Up on Trump’s Sanctuary City List?
Huntington Beach has ended up on a list of sanctuary cities under the microscope by the Department of Homeland Security despite not being a sanctuary city. It also comes after council members publicly directed police officers to disregard California’s sanctuary law.
Posted inCountywide
Orange County Supervisors Lambast Gas-Powered Water Heater Crackdown
OC Supervisors are the latest elected officials to criticize a proposal to gradually switch Southern Californians to electric water heaters and furnaces – a move that could cost people nearly $20,000.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Officials to Assess Risks of Publicly Disclosing ICE Activity in the City
City staff is expected to come back with answers to a host of questions on the risks and impacts of Santa Ana leaders disclosing ICE courtesy calls to the public.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Federal Prosecutors Recommend 5 Years in Prison for Former OC Supervisor Andrew Do
Federal prosecutors are calling for the maximum sentence against Do after he pleaded guilty to bribery while he and his friends are asking for a lighter sentence.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
An OC Senator Pushes to Fund Drug Court Programs Across California
State legislators are considering two bills aimed at setting standards and helping fund drug court programs as law enforcement across California starts arresting people under Prop. 36 – a statewide street crime law adopted by voters last year.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Cracks Down on Shady Smoke Shops
Anaheim officials are looking to crack down and tighten regulations on local smoke shops as police raise concerns that some of them have become hubs for illegal activity.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Institutes New Oversight on Tourism Bureau After Searing State Audit
Anaheim officials approved an agreement with the city’s controversial tourism bureau to market the Disneyland resort with new oversight and transparency measures after a state audit found improper tourism tax dollar spending.
Posted inAnaheim
Disneyland Resort Interests Are Reorganizing in Anaheim After Corruption Scandal
Anaheim’s main resort interests are regrouping and reorganizing in the wake of the corruption scandal that showed just how much influence they wielded over city hall.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Bans Whippets
Santa Ana City Council members are the latest elected officials in Orange County to adopt an ordinance banning the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational drug use.
