Hundreds of protesters gathered in Southern California over the weekend to voice their outrage at Vice President JD Vance’s family vacation to Disneyland, as the visit coincided with widespread U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across Los Angeles.
Chanting slogans and waving signs, demonstrators assembled near Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel, where Vance, his wife Usha, and their two children were staying. One widely seen protest sign, featuring a photo of Vance, declared, “No family vacation while we deal with family separation.”
“I would tell [Vance] to go home,” one protester told Fox 11. “Get the hell out of here. We don’t want him here.” The demonstrations reflected growing public frustration with federal immigration policies under the Trump administration, especially in California, where recent ICE raids have targeted Latino communities.
Despite the protests, Vance and his family were seen at Disneyland the following day, walking through the park’s Bayou Country area. Their presence drew further complaints from park guests, who reported delayed wait times and inaccessible rides due to heightened security measures and temporary closures during the second family’s visit.
The Vances rode the newly reimagined Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, which replaced Splash Mountain, a former attraction rooted in the criticized “Song of the South” narrative. Their appearance sparked renewed debate among critics and conservatives, some of whom oppose the ride’s revamped cultural theme. The ride has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation over inclusivity and historical revisionism in public spaces.
JD Vance was pictured strolling with his family, hand in hand, flanked by plain-clothed Secret Service agents. Their relaxed visit, however, stood in sharp contrast to a climate of fear among immigrant communities across greater Los Angeles, particularly in areas like Santa Ana and Garden Grove.
Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, whose district includes parts of Anaheim and other affected regions, told KTLA that his office was made aware of the vice president’s visit on Thursday. He acknowledged the timing was unfortunate given growing tensions. “His arrival in California comes at a time when trust in government feels fragile,” Sarmiento said.
While extending respect to the office, Sarmiento was critical of the administration’s immigration policies. “I welcome any policymaker to visit, listen, and witness the hard-working immigrant communities that make our county strong,” he added. “I respect the office, but I can’t respect policies that hurt our people.”
The controversy continues to highlight deep divisions over immigration enforcement, especially in diverse regions like Southern California, where communities are witnessing profound local impacts shaped by federal actions.
