Two employees at a San Bernardino County surgery center have been charged in federal court with assaulting immigration officers and interfering with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, was arrested Friday morning and was expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Riverside later in the day. Federal authorities are still searching for a second suspect, 33-year-old Danielle Nadine Davila of Corona.
The charges stem from an incident on July 8 in which Ortega and Davila allegedly obstructed federal agents as they attempted to apprehend a man suspected of being in the country illegally. Both are charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to impede an officer through force or intimidation.
“This story is another example of a false narrative echoed in the media in furtherance of an agenda to delegitimize federal agents,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement. “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.”
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the confrontation began after two immigration officers conducting roving immigration enforcement operations in Ontario followed a truck carrying three adult men. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a local surgery center, and two of the men fled on foot when approached by agents.
One of the fleeing individuals, described in court documents as a Honduran national unlawfully present in the United States, was initially detained near the surgery center’s front entrance. However, he resisted arrest, officials allege, and both he and one of the agents fell to the ground during the scuffle. A medical staff member then intervened, helping the man to his feet and pulling him away from the federal agent, allowing him to run into the building.
Once inside, the complaint alleges that Ortega and Davila, both dressed in medical scrubs, confronted the federal agent in an attempt to block the arrest. Davila reportedly wedged herself between the officer and the suspect, shouting “Let him go!” and “Get out!” while pushing the immigration officer. Ortega allegedly grabbed that officer’s arm and then his vest in an effort to stop the pursuit.
Another immigration officer responded to the scene after a call for assistance and observed staff members physically engaging with the initial officer. The agents ultimately succeeded in detaining the man and escorted him out of the building.
If convicted, Ortega and Davila each face a maximum statutory sentence of eight years in federal prison for the assault charge and up to six years for conspiracy to interfere with a federal officer.
The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.
