Two California medical staffers now face federal charges after allegedly assaulting ICE agents during an attempted arrest at an Ontario surgical center, raising serious questions about just how far some are willing to go to obstruct the law—and what this means for the future of federal immigration enforcement in so-called “sanctuary” states.
At a Glance
- Two medical staff members charged with assaulting and interfering with ICE agents during a July 2025 arrest attempt at an Ontario, California surgical center.
- One staffer is in custody; the other is still on the run.
- The incident highlights ongoing tension between federal immigration law and California’s sanctuary policies.
- Federal officials vow to prosecute interference with law enforcement, regardless of setting.
Medical Staffers Charged After Chaotic ICE Arrest at California Clinic
Federal law enforcement charged two employees of the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center after they allegedly assaulted and attempted to block ICE agents from arresting a Honduran national on July 8, 2025. Jose de Jesus Ortega, now in custody, and Danielle Nadine Davila, who remains at large, are both accused of physically interfering with officers carrying out their sworn duty to uphold the law. According to authorities, the illegal alien in question was not a patient or associated with the clinic, but ran inside to evade ICE. What played out next is just the latest example of California’s ongoing war with federal authority over immigration.
ICE officers, wearing government-issued vests and driving an unmarked vehicle, arrived at the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center as part of a targeted operation to apprehend two undocumented immigrants. When one of the suspects, Denis Guillen-Solis, bolted and ran into the private medical facility, Ortega and Davila allegedly confronted and assaulted the agents, according to official statements. Ortega was arrested July 26 and awaits a court appearance; Davila, as of this writing, is still on the run. Both face charges of assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent a federal officer from discharging duties through force and intimidation. The Honduran national has since been apprehended by ICE and is in federal custody.
Federal Law Versus Sanctuary State Tactics
California has a long history of undermining federal immigration enforcement, but direct physical interference by medical staff is especially rare. While state and local officials in California have repeatedly tried to tie ICE’s hands through sanctuary policies and public posturing, the law remains clear: obstruction of federal officers is a crime, no matter your personal politics or where it happens. The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have made it clear that they will prosecute those who interfere with federal law enforcement, regardless of the so-called “sensitive” setting. Some local politicians and advocacy groups, ever eager to virtue signal, have condemned ICE for daring to enforce the law at a medical facility—never mind the fact that the suspect was not receiving care but was merely using the location as a hideout.
The Ontario Advanced Surgical Center now finds itself in the crosshairs, facing staffing disruptions and a media firestorm. Federal prosecutors and judges will determine the legal fate of the staffers. Meanwhile, local officials and activists continue to undermine public safety by encouraging lawlessness under the guise of “compassion.”
Nationwide Implications for Immigration Enforcement
This incident comes at a pivotal moment in national immigration policy. With President Trump back in office and the failed Biden era fading in the rearview, the federal government has renewed its commitment to restoring law and order at the border and throughout the country. Project 2025 and recent executive orders have made clear that ICE will not be restricted from carrying out enforcement at so-called “sensitive” locations like hospitals and clinics. This has enraged open-border activists and their political enablers, who would rather see law enforcement hamstrung and illegal immigrants shielded from consequence. The administration’s stance is unambiguous: federal law comes first, and those who break it—whether by entering the country illegally or by physically attacking ICE agents—will be held accountable.
Legal experts and law enforcement officials are united in warning against obstruction. Federal law grants ICE broad authority, and medical staff are not empowered to interfere. Yet, advocacy groups continue their campaign to demonize ICE and muddy the waters, arguing arrests at clinics erode trust in healthcare. The facts remain: the suspect was not a patient, and the staffers’ actions crossed the line from protest to criminality. The only thing “eroding trust” here is the spectacle of professionals putting ideology above the law. If the courts hand down real consequences, perhaps it will serve as a warning to others tempted to take the law into their own hands. For now, the message from Washington is clear: no one, no matter their job title or their feelings about immigration, is above federal law.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
