On Tuesday afternoon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood to seek medical care for a detainee. This unexpected presence sparked a protest outside the hospital, with about 50 people gathering to express their concerns about ICE’s actions.
According to Steve Lurie, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for campus and community safety, two ICE officers brought a detainee into the emergency room for treatment. After a medical evaluation, the detainee was not admitted to the hospital and was later discharged back into ICE custody. Details about the detainee’s health were not disclosed.
UCLA Health clarified that no ICE operation was taking place at the medical center, despite social media reports suggesting otherwise. Hospital staff contacted UCLA police to verify the identity of the federal agents. The police confirmed that the officers were indeed from ICE.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the community regarding immigration enforcement. Many healthcare facilities serving low-income patients have reported an increase in missed appointments as individuals without documentation fear they might be targeted by ICE during medical visits.
In response to these fears, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is set to address the community at a briefing hosted by St. John’s Community Health, emphasizing the importance of safe access to healthcare.
Witnesses from the L.A. Rapid Response Network reported seeing a woman being escorted by ICE agents from an underground parking area at the medical center. This network, led by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights L.A. (CHIRLA), trains volunteers to respond to and verify reports of ICE activity.
Randall Kuhn, a public health professor at UCLA, expressed a mix of relief and concern. He noted that it was good that ICE brought the detainee in for care, but he worried about the potential health risks associated with the stress of detention. He questioned whether the patient received appropriate care, considering the circumstances.
Lurie stated that the protocol for discharging a detainee is the same as for any law enforcement agency that brings someone in custody to the hospital. He also mentioned that UCLA police do not have the authority to prevent federal immigration agents from entering public areas of the campus or medical facilities.
If ICE agents seek to enter restricted areas of the hospital, staff are advised to contact their administrators and legal representatives to review any warrants or subpoenas. They are instructed to gather the agents’ identification information and inform them that they are not obstructing their process but need to consult with administrators.
This incident reflects the growing anxiety within immigrant communities about accessing healthcare services amid fears of immigration enforcement.