Two women are behind bars in Santa Ana after federal immigration agents accused them of following them after an enforcement operation.
Now, family, supporters and Santa Ana elected officials gathered outside the department to call for their release.
The arrests were captured on video and shared on social media.
Santa Ana police say the women were arrested after they followed the ICE agents and the agents contacted police because they feared for their safety.
A social media video captured the moment that the two women were being arrested by police on Wednesday.
The women, who monitor ICE enforcement activity for the group Lucha Orange, were arrested after federal agents accused them of stalking.
Their family members, supporters and three of the city’s six council members spoke out against the arrest of 25-year-old Madison Crabill and 33-year-old Adiline Tonoco.
Santa Ana police say the arrests followed a call from two ICE agents on Wednesday who reported they were being followed.
The department says the agents told them they had just completed an immigration operation in La Habra when they noticed a car following them
Police say the car followed the agents to the federal immigration building in Santa Ana and continued following them when they left to head home
The agents then contacted Santa Ana police, telling officers they feared for their safety and that the women at times attempted to block them
Police directed the agents to drive to the Santa Ana police department, where officers arrested Crabill and Tonoco.
Crabill’s father disputes the allegations against his daughter.
“We have always tried to teach our children right from wrong and ive never been prouder of my daughter standing for constitutional rights for all of us,” John Crabill said.
Both Crabill and Tonoco were arrested for resisting and delaying or obstructing a peace officer, stalking, and criminal conspiracy.
Both women remain in custody and have since hired legal representation. NBC4 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for a statement and La Habra police to see if they were aware of the alleged incident that started in their city, but have not heard back from either agency.
