On Tuesday afternoon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood to seek medical attention for a detainee. This unexpected visit sparked protests from around 50 people who were concerned about the agents’ presence at the hospital.
Two ICE officers brought the detainee to the emergency room for treatment. According to Steve Lurie, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for campus and community safety, the medical evaluation did not require the detainee to be admitted to the hospital, and they were later discharged back into ICE custody. Details about the detainee’s health were not disclosed.
UCLA Health issued a statement clarifying that there was no ongoing ICE operation at the medical center, despite social media reports suggesting otherwise. Hospital staff called UCLA police to verify the identity of the federal agents. The police confirmed that the officers were indeed with ICE.
The incident reflects growing tensions in the community regarding immigration enforcement. Healthcare facilities serving low-income patients have reported an increase in missed appointments as individuals fear ICE might be targeting hospitals and clinics. In response to these concerns, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass plans to address the community at a briefing hosted by St. John’s Community Health.
Witnesses from the L.A. Rapid Response Network reported seeing a woman being escorted by federal agents and loaded into a van. Jorge-Mario Cabrera, the director of communications for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights L.A., noted the incident’s impact on the community’s trust in healthcare services.
Randall Kuhn, a UCLA public health professor, expressed some relief that ICE brought the detainee in for care instead of ignoring their health needs. However, he raised concerns about the stress the situation could cause and whether the detainee received adequate medical attention, including culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
Lurie explained that the protocol for discharging a detainee brought in by law enforcement is standard, and UCLA police do not have the authority to prevent federal agents from entering public areas of the hospital. If ICE were to request access to restricted areas, hospital staff are advised to contact their administrators to assess the situation.
This incident highlights the ongoing fears surrounding immigration enforcement in healthcare settings, as many individuals may avoid seeking necessary medical care due to concerns about being detained.