Ontario Surgery Center Staff Charged with Obstructing Immigration Enforcement
Two employees of the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center in California have been criminally charged with interfering with federal agents attempting to detain individuals. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, highlights the growing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and raises questions about the boundaries of private property rights.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, was arrested Friday and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Riverside. Authorities are currently seeking Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona, in connection with the same case. Both individuals face charges of assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to obstruct the duties of a federal officer, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Incident at Ontario Advanced Surgical Center
The charges stem from an encounter between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and three landscapers at the surgical center. According to video footage obtained by KTLA-TV, the agents were attempting to detain 30-year-old Denis Guillen-Solis and two colleagues who had sought refuge inside the facility while working outside. Staff at the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center reportedly demanded the agents leave the property, citing a lack of a warrant.
The video shows Guillen-Solis attempting to verify the agents’ identities at the doorway before being forcibly detained. A subsequent affidavit revealed the agents were wearing standard government-issued vests and operating unmarked government vehicles during the operation.
“The individual arrested inside the surgery center was not a patient,” stated U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “He ran inside for cover, and these defendants attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents.”
Escalation and Allegations of Assault
The situation escalated when one of the landscapers, allegedly an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, resisted arrest near the surgery center’s entrance. During the struggle, an ICE agent reportedly fell to the ground after the individual attempted to pull away. A medical staffer then intervened, assisting the man to his feet and pulling him away from the officer before he re-entered the surgical center. The agent pursued and ultimately apprehended the man inside the building.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of a heightened period of immigration enforcement initiated by the Trump administration in Southern California. During this period, thousands of individuals – many without prior criminal records – were detained in various public locations, including workplaces and courthouses.
Legal Ramifications and Ongoing Investigation
The charges against Ortega and Davila carry significant penalties. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to search for Davila. The case is expected to draw scrutiny from civil liberties groups and legal experts, particularly regarding the agents’ actions on private property and the extent to which individuals can legally interfere with federal law enforcement.
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The incident underscores the complex legal and ethical considerations surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of private citizens and institutions in these operations.
