Two staff members at a California surgical center are facing federal charges after allegedly interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempting to arrest a Honduran national earlier this month.
According to federal authorities, Denis Guillen-Solis, an illegal immigrant and landscaper from Honduras, fled on foot when approached by ICE officers and took refuge inside the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center—where he was neither a patient nor affiliated with the facility.
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said in a statement that the incident has been misrepresented in media reports.
“This story is another example of a false narrative peddled by irresponsible members of the media in furtherance of a political agenda to delegitimize federal agents,” Essayli told Fox News. “The illegal alien arrested inside the medical center was not a patient and was not in any way affiliated with that location. He ran inside for cover and these medical workers attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents.”
Staffers Accused of Physically Obstructing Arrest
Federal criminal complaints identify the two clinic workers as Jose De Jesus Ortega and Danielle Nadine Davila. Both were charged with forcibly assaulting and impeding federal officers and conspiring to prevent ICE agents from carrying out their lawful duties.
Ortega was taken into custody Friday morning. Davila, who was considered at large earlier in the day, was arrested hours later. According to LinkedIn, Davila is a certified surgical technologist at the clinic. Court documents allege she placed her hands on an ICE agent and physically positioned herself between the officer and Guillen-Solis.
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE officers were conducting a targeted enforcement operation involving two illegal immigrants when Guillen-Solis fled. As officers pursued him, he ran into the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center.
“Hospital staff assaulted law enforcement and dragged the officer and illegal alien into the facility,” DHS posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The staff then tried to block the arrest by locking doors, obstructing law enforcement vehicles, and even called local police to falsely report a kidnapping.”
Tense Standoff Captured on Video
Video of the incident shows clinic staff confronting federal agents.
“This is private property,” one employee says, demanding the officers leave. Another staffer is heard yelling, “Get your hands off of him!”
Local Lawmaker Condemns ICE Operation
California Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez, a Democrat who represents Ontario, criticized ICE’s actions, calling the operation “devastating.”
“Immigration Enforcement officers kidnapped constituents from a surgical center as they were doing their jobs,” Rodriguez said. “While I support law enforcement officers who act with integrity and uphold the law, I will never condone these cruel and lawless actions. Without accountability, we are left with armed men in masks dragging people off the street—this is not safety, not justice, and this is not who we should be.”
Despite the criticism, U.S. Attorney Essayli warned that anyone interfering with federal law enforcement operations would be held accountable: “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work—if you assault our agents or interfere with our duties, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime.”
