BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Community members and advocates gathered Saturday afternoon outside Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights to protest the presence of ICE agents at the hospital.
Federal agents were at the medical center with a person in their custody who needed medical attention around midnight, according to Los Angeles police.
Video from the scene shows tense clashes between community members and federal agents outside the hospital. The footage also showed a teenage girl receiving help after being pepper-sprayed during the protest. As the ICE agents left the area, LAPD officers followed closely behind.
The protest attracted community advocates and Mayor-elect Nithya Raman, who condemned the federal presence at the hospital.
“What happened last night at this hospital was an affront to the wishes of the American people and the people of Los Angeles,” Raman said.
During the protest at the hospital, demonstrators gathered around hospital president Daniel Fontura, inviting him to address the crowd.
“Give him the mic! Give him the mic,” the protesters shouted.
Fontura said federal agents entered the hospital with a person in need of medical care and denied requests that would have allowed agents to be present during a doctor-patient consultation.
“There was a time when ICE actually wanted to break protocol and join the doctor in this sacred doctor-patient encounter and we said no,” Fontura said.
Fontoura also explained why hospital officials contacted the LAPD.
“When they lined up to prevent EMS trucks and ambulances from accessing our facilities, it was not done with our approval,” he said.
“So when these things happen, we called the LAPD and asked to help us resolve this difficult situation.”
The LAPD said officers responded to the incident to keep the peace.
Fontura said the hospital plans to improve communication between hospital security personnel and the LAPD to strengthen protocols when dealing with ICE agents.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment but did not receive a response.
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