Two staff members at a Southern California surgical center are accused of assaulting a US immigrant official and obstructing an ice investigation in a video-shot conflict.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highlands and Daniel Nadine Davira, 33, of Corona, were charged with federal complaints in assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent a federal officer, threatening to exempt an argument in Ontario about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, Ontario on July 8.
Ortega was arrested Friday morning and was expected to appear in Riverside courtroom on Friday afternoon. Authorities are looking for Davila. It was not immediately clear whether the lawyer’s show could comment on the case against them.
Two immigrant and customs enforcement officers were running an immigration enforcement business in Ontario while tracking a truck that had been turned into a surgical centre parking lot, according to an affidavit filed in support of the complaint. Two of the three men fled, and the third was identified by authorities as a Honduras man who was illegally in the United States and was “partially detained” near the entrance to the surgical center.
The US lawyer’s office drew the way before he fell to the ground with the ice officer. Ortega and Davila subsequently blocked their arrest, the agency said.
The video showed the struggle in the corridor just inside the building.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna revealed limited cooperation between his department and federal immigration officials. Darsha Phillips on NBC4 News at 11pm on July 17th, 2025.
“Ortega and Davira, both wearing medical scrubs, prevented and interfered with the arrest,” the office said in a news release. “Davila is dressed between the officer and the alien, pushing the officer, “Let him go!” and “Let him go!” Ortega grabs the officer’s arm and then grabs the vest. ”
The man was eventually taken into custody by a federal officer.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to eight years in federal prison for assault and six years in federal prison for conspiracy.
“This story is another example of a false story that reverberated across the media to promote the agenda to outlaw federal agents,” Bill Essay said. “The illegal foreigners arrested inside the surgical centre were not patients. He ran in for cover and these accused tried to stop their anxiety by attacking our agents. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work.
The ice manipulation took place after weeks of immigration enforcement operations around Southern California. The Department of Homeland Security says businesses, including ice raids, will continue as part of the Trump administration’s massive deportation plan, a central promise in his presidential election.
Essayli said today on LA Friday that his office filed more than 50 criminal federal complaints.
Approximately 56,400 immigrants have been detained by ICEs nationwide since President Trump began his second term, according to NBC News. NBCNews uses ICE data to track immigration enforcement, similar to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency data. Almost 29% of those detained are criminally convicted. There are pending criminal charges for 24.6%. 47% were listed as “other immigrant violators.” And 11.9% were quickly tracked for deportation.
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