Reporter

Mona Darwish

Mona Darwish is a graduate of UC Irvine and an experienced academic researcher. She has covered multiple beats as a college reporter, photographer, and opinion editor for the Coast Report. Before joining SCNG, she helped cover labor, public policy, and the justice system as an intern at More Perfect Union.

The Orange County Health Care Agency partners with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for a pre-filling diversion program to help people who may have substance abuse or mental illness. (Courtesy of OC Health Agency)

OC Health Care Agency responds to reports of Medicaid data sharing with ICE

July 18, 2025 at 4:57 p.m.

The Orange County HCA urged patients not to disenroll from Medi-Cal and said data previously submitted to state or federal systems would not be erased.

A detention officer stands outside with a federal agent who just detained two people inside the Santa Ana immigration courthouse. (Photo by Mona Darwish)

Tears and frustration at Santa Ana immigration court, where a lawyer fears for his clients’ safety

July 17, 2025 at 4:15 p.m.

'I can't in good conscience tell them that they're not in danger,' the attorney said, referring to the fast-tracking of detentions and deportations.

The Santa Ana City Council is set vote on a resolution July 1 appointing a director to the Police Oversight Commission. Above, in 2018 Santa Ana Chief of Police David Valentin and his deputy chiefs walk the line of officers during an inspection at their headquarters in Santa Ana, CA. Three hundred sworn officers were at the inspection. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santa Ana City Council to meet with Police Oversight Commission over proposed changes

July 17, 2025 at 4:52 p.m.

The city manager's office said the changes are meant to "align" the commission with state law and maintain "best practices in law enforcement accountability."

Protesters confront law enforcement outside of a federal building and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center on June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA. Santa Ana has joined a lawsuit with L.A. County and eight other cities alleging unconstitutional federal immigration raids targeting communities. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Santa Ana joins lawsuit challenging federal immigration raids

July 17, 2025 at 2:18 p.m.

Santa Ana is the only Orange County city to participate in the lawsuit so far, joining Los Angeles County and eight other cities.

Alejandro Barranco and his father Narciso Barranco (center) and two younger brothers, Emanuel and Jose Luis, in 2020. (Courtesy of Alejandro Barranco)

OC father of 3 U.S. Marines released from immigration detention center after multiple days of delay

July 16, 2025 at 6:50 a.m.

Barranco was released to his family around 2 p.m. on July 15 and was taken to the hospital for a physical check-up.

Narciso Barranco’s three sons, all U.S. Marines, attended their father’s court hearing at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center on Thursday, July 10. (Courtesy of Arianna Barrios)

OC father of 3 U.S Marines to be released from immigration detention center

July 11, 2025 at 6:22 p.m.

The Tustin landscaper will be released on bond, an Orange city councilwoman said.

Firefighters battle the Rancho Fire in Laguna Beach, CA on July 7, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Evacuations canceled for Rancho fire in Laguna Beach; fireworks suspected

July 8, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.

No structure damage was reported.

Shadow and Jackie work on their nest in Big Bear on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Video still courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)

Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow return following July 4th fireworks

July 8, 2025 at 10:37 a.m.

Despite pleas from an environmental group, Big Bear continued its holiday fireworks show.

A small memorial grew at the end of a cul-de-sac in Buena Park on Sunday, on a street where an 8-year-old Anaheim girl was killed in a fireworks explosion on July 4th, 2025. (Photo by Mona Darwish/SCNG)

46-year-old Buena Park man posts bail after fireworks blast that killed 8-year-old girl

July 10, 2025 at 1:43 p.m.

Earl Decastro was hosting a Fourth of July party and the victim was the daughter of a family friend, police said.

The cats seized from a Fullerton home Wednesday will eventually be available for adoption after they receive medical treatment and the investigation is complete. (Photo by OC Hawk)

At least 120 cats seized from Fullerton home by OC Animal Control

July 3, 2025 at 9:17 a.m.

The total amount of cats seized has not been determined yet, as animals were still being processed for intake at the agency's headquarters in Tustin.

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