Federal immigration agents blocked the ambulance entrance to a Los Angeles hospital for about two hours after bringing a person in their custody to its emergency department, forcing staff to divert ambulances elsewhere, the hospital said. The incident at Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights prompted protests and criticism from local leaders.

Agents arrived late on Friday, 6 November, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The hospital has not disclosed the detainee's identity or why the person needed treatment. It said the patient was treated with dignity and privacy, but agents later formed a line across the ambulance entrance without the hospital's request or authorisation.

Ambulances Diverted After ICE Blocked Hospital Entrance

Adventist Health said the blockade lasted about two hours and ambulances were redirected to nearby hospitals to ensure patients received timely care. It did not say how many vehicles were diverted or whether any patient experienced a delay. Nor has it said whether the diversion affected waiting times or clinical outcomes.

The hospital said it contacted the LAPD after agents lined up across the access point used by emergency medical services. Hospital president Daniel Fontoura told demonstrators on Saturday that agents had also sought to be present during a doctor's consultation with the detainee. He said staff refused, describing the physician-patient encounter as 'sacred'.

Adventist Health said it did not participate in immigration enforcement and focused on the patient's care. The hospital said the agents' blockade was neither requested nor authorised.

Protests and Conflicting Accounts Outside White Memorial

The federal presence drew residents and immigrant-rights advocates to the hospital. Video showed a tense stand-off between demonstrators and masked agents, while some protesters banged pots and filmed. Community activist Abraham Zavala said agents used pepper spray against him and others, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Los Angeles Mayor-elect Nithya Raman joined the protest on Saturday. In a post on X that day, she said she was 'appalled' by the events, alleging that agents obstructed emergency-room access and detained two US citizens. Neither the LAPD nor the Department of Homeland Security independently confirmed the reported detentions to the Los Angeles Times.

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli offered a different account of the confrontation. He said the detainee had requested medical treatment and that two people were subsequently arrested and charged with assaulting federal officers. However, the LAPD and DHS had not independently confirmed the reported arrests or the detainees' citizenship status. Essayli said protesters had harassed and obstructed agents.

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LAPD Says It Did Not Assist Immigration Enforcement

The LAPD said officers attended after reports of a disturbance to maintain public safety, preserve access to emergency medical services and keep the peace. A department spokesperson said officers did not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement activity or detain anyone on their behalf. Officers made contact with members of the crowd, who later dispersed.

At a Saturday rally, state Senator María Elena Durazo and officials called on hospital leaders to explain what happened and strengthen safeguards. Durazo delivered a letter requesting a detailed account. Raman said the events were an affront to Los Angeles and its residents.

The hospital said it wants to improve communication between its security team and the LAPD for future incidents. It has not detailed how ambulances were routed during the diversion or whether any patients faced longer journeys to emergency care. Federal officials had not provided a detailed public explanation of the ambulance blockade.

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