Los Angeles, California: Mayor-Elect Raman Joins Protest After ICE Agents Block Boyle Heights Hospital Entrance

Federal immigration agents blocked the ambulance entrance at Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights for about two hours early on Saturday, November 7, the hospital said, forcing staff to divert ambulances to nearby hospitals while protesters gathered outside.

The incident began on Friday evening, November 6, after agents brought a person in their custody to the emergency department for treatment for undisclosed reasons, hospital officials told reporters. Agents later formed a line across the ambulance entrance. The hospital said it did not request or authorize that line.

"When agents formed a line across our ambulance entrance, which we did not request nor authorize, we diverted ambulances to nearby hospitals for about two hours to ensure every patient received timely care," Adventist Health executive Japhet De Oliveira said in a statement carried by Adventist Today, which reported the hospital account from LAist and the Los Angeles Times.

Protests Friday night and Saturday

Protesters gathered at the hospital late on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday. Community advocates said at least two people were detained by federal agents during the demonstrations. The Department of Homeland Security and the Los Angeles Police Department did not confirm the detentions to the Los Angeles Times, according to Adventist Today.

Videos shared online showed agents pushing protesters and using what appeared to be pepper spray, Adventist Today reported.

The Los Angeles Police Department said it first responded shortly before midnight on Friday after a report of a large group causing a disturbance, and returned at about 2:24 a.m. on Saturday after hospital security reported protesters near the ambulance area. Police said officers were there to maintain public safety and preserve access to emergency care, and did not take part in immigration enforcement.

March from Mariachi Plaza

On Saturday afternoon, residents and elected leaders marched from Mariachi Plaza to the hospital at 1720 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Mayor-elect Nithya Raman, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez took part, along with the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network and other advocates, MyNewsLA reported.

"I am appalled by what took place last night at White Memorial hospital in Boyle Heights, where ICE agents were obstructing emergency room entry and detained two US citizens," Raman posted. "I condemn these reckless actions by the Trump administration." Raman told the crowd, "I am an immigrant myself," and led chants in Spanish calling for ICE to leave Boyle Heights and Los Angeles, the New York Post reported.

Durazo and other leaders delivered a letter asking hospital administrators for an account of the incident and for clear procedures to stop agents from blocking entrances or entering patient rooms. The letter asked for a written response by November 21, Adventist Today reported.

"What happened last night was unacceptable," Durazo said. "It is unacceptable that ICE would go into our health care facilities. But we also believe that White Memorial can and should do more."

Mayor Karen Bass condemned the overnight presence on Saturday, saying agents had effectively sealed off a critical entrance at the ambulance bay. "I condemn ICE's action and call on the Trump administration to stop all immigration enforcement in and around health care facilities," Bass said.

Hospital president Daniel Fontoura told the officials that White Memorial has no special relationship or contract with federal immigration authorities. "White Memorial is a place of healing and safety for everyone, regardless of immigration status," Fontoura said.

MyNewsLA reported that ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.