Clinic Staff Confront ICE Agents in California

In a dramatic encounter at the Ontario Advanced Surgery Center, located approximately 30 miles east of Los Angeles, clinic staff members were recorded on video attempting to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining a Honduran landscaper. The incident unfolded on Tuesday when ICE officers, wearing clearly marked bulletproof vests, approached their target as he exited a vehicle. The situation escalated when one staff member, clad in blue scrubs, vocally opposed the agents, demanding they release the man and leave the premises.

Details of the ICE Operation

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE officers were conducting a targeted enforcement operation aimed at arresting two individuals identified as illegal aliens. One of these individuals, Denis Guillen-Solis from Honduras, attempted to evade capture by fleeing on foot. His flight led him to the vicinity of the Ontario Advanced Surgery Center, where the confrontation with clinic staff occurred. The staff reportedly intervened by physically shielding Guillen-Solis and dragging both him and an officer into the facility.

Obstruction and Allegations

The Department of Homeland Security further reported that clinic staff obstructed law enforcement efforts by locking doors and blocking vehicles. They even called local police, alleging a kidnapping was in progress. Despite these efforts, ICE agents eventually succeeded in arresting Guillen-Solis after a struggle inside the clinic.

Community Reaction and Broader Context

Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, highlighted that Guillen-Solis was sending money back to Honduras to support his mother’s dialysis treatments. This incident is part of a broader pattern of confrontations between federal immigration officers and community members. On the same day, protesters clashed with ICE agents outside the San Francisco Immigration Court. Additionally, another clash occurred north of Los Angeles during an immigration operation at a marijuana farm suspected of employing illegal immigrants.