Jose de Jesus Ortega and Danielle Nadine Davila were both arrested and arraigned in federal court on suspicion of assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent by force and intimidating a federal officer from discharging his duties.
"It is against the law to interfere with federal immigration agents," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "You cannot touch them, and you cannot get in their way."
The incident occurred July 8 at the Ontario Advanced Surgery Center.
According to the criminal complaint, the federal officers were following a truck with three men inside of it, including Denis Guillen, who the document identified as a "target alien."
When the truck arrived at the medical center, the complaint alleges that the agents attempted to detain Guillen, who then ran inside the office.
"The narrative out there was an insinuation that this illegal alien was somehow a patient at this medical center, or that he was removed during an appointment," Essayli said. "That's completely false. He was under investigation for being in the country here unlawfully.
"He was being chased by federal agents. He ran into this medical center to escape the agents. And these workers attempted to obstruct the agents' ability to apprehend him, and they made physical contact. They actually touched the agents. They laid hands on federal agents."
Essayli said since Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began increasing enforcement of immigration laws in June, his office has filed charges in more than 50 cases involving people suspected of interfering with federal officers.
The criminal complaint references cellphone video shot by someone inside the center, showing Davila appearing to wedge herself between Guillen and one of the officers, and Ortega appearing to grab the officer's arm.
Guillen's niece spoke out at a news conference in front of the center Friday afternoon, calling for the release of her uncle.
"This arrest was not about law enforcement," said Synai Alas. "It was about silencing him. My uncle is being targeted and prosecuted, not because he broke any law, but because he has fearlessly stood up to defend constitutional rights."