On Aug. 15, US Attorney Bill Essayli asked to withdraw his case against two Ontario medical staffers recorded during an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raid.

His July 24 complaint charged Jose de Jesus Ortega and Danielle Davila with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent a federal officer from discharging his duties.

Video of the employees asking whether ICE agents had a warrant to arrest landscaper Denis Guillen-Solis became national news. Guillen-Solis had ran into the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center after being pursued by ICE agents on July 8. The complaint against Ortega and Davila said the agents were "conducting roving immigration-related operations." Roving patrols have been enjoined by order of United States Central District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong since July 11.

Essayli's motions to dismiss the complaint did not provide a reason. He filed to dismiss the conspiracy charge on Aug. 14, and filed to dismiss the assault charge on Aug. 15. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 15.

"It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work, if you assault our agents or otherwise interfere with our operations, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime," Essayli had said at the announcement of the charges.

The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) will hold a press conference with Ortega on Aug. 19. According to the ICIJ, Essayli is planning on replacing the federal charges with misdemeanors charges, and Ortega plans to take his defense to trial.

Ortega is represented by Carlos Juarez of Riverside. Davila is represented by Oliver Cleary of Beverly Hills.

Share this article
The link has been copied!