Los Angeles Mayor-elect Nithya Raman faced sharp criticism from a top federal prosecutor after accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of reckless conduct during a confrontation at a hospital.
Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, responded to Raman's condemnation on X, stating, "I know you’re new to this, but facts matter." He defended ICE agents, asserting they were at Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights to provide medical treatment to a detainee who had requested a doctor.
Raman, who recently defeated Karen Bass for the mayoral seat, had previously accused federal agents of obstructing emergency room entry and detaining U.S. citizens, calling the actions "reckless" and stating that "ICE has no place in Los Angeles."
Essayli countered that protesters created a dangerous situation for the public and law enforcement, and he emphasized that immigration enforcement is a federal matter. "As mayor, you have no say in federal affairs. It’s called the Supremacy Clause. I can send you a copy of the U.S. Constitution if you’d like to study up," he wrote.
He also urged Raman to differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants, sharing that he is the son of legal immigrants. "Our family followed the law, was welcomed with open arms, and is proud to be law-abiding Americans. The two are not the same," he stated.
Raman, who identifies as an immigrant herself, had joined anti-ICE demonstrators outside the hospital prior to the exchange, leading chants and expressing the fear she believes many feel due to immigration enforcement. Outgoing Mayor Bass also called on the Trump administration to halt immigration enforcement around healthcare facilities.
The incident occurred when ICE agents brought a detainee to White Memorial's emergency department. Hospital officials reported that federal agents blocked the ambulance entrance for approximately two hours, necessitating the rerouting of emergency vehicles.
This exchange marks an early conflict between the incoming mayor and federal officials regarding immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.