Feds charge Ontario surgery center staff for ICE interference

Two medical employees have been charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent a federal officer from discharging his duties. 

The United States’ Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the charges July 25. The complaint is not yet available on the federal case management system, and their attorney’s names are not available. 

Jose de Jesus Ortega of Highland was arrested July 25. As of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s release, Danielle Davila of Corona is wanted by law enforcement. 

According to the release, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were following a truck with three adult men on July 8. The release did not say the reason the officers were following the truck, but said they “conducted roving immigration-related operations.” The truck turned into an Ontario surgery center. One of the men, identified as an illegal alien by the press release, ran into the building. The officers pursued him. Ortega and Davila “impeded and interfered” with the arrest, the release said.

Video of the arrest is available here. 

“This story is another example of a false narrative echoed in the media in furtherance of an agenda to delegitimize federal agents,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The illegal alien arrested inside the surgery center was not a patient. He ran inside for cover and these defendants attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents. 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.”

The release said that the defendants could face eight years in federal prison.