LOS ANGELES — A Latino civil rights organization filed a lawsuit against Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles County, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services for violating the rights of an immigrant patient who was unlawfully detained by Harbor in cooperation with federal immigration agents after he was hospitalized with serious injuries.
MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) filed the lawsuit on behalf of Bayron Rovidio Marin, whose treatment at Harbor-UCLA involved federal immigration agents interfering with his medical care, restricting his access to family and counsel, and failing to protect his privacy while he was hospitalized from August 27 through October 2025.
The lawsuit claims violations of the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, the California Constitution’s protections for privacy and equal protection, and state prohibitions on false imprisonment.
“Government entities like Los Angeles County that assert policies of non-complicity in wrongful immigration enforcement should take all steps necessary to ensure that those publicized policies are followed completely,” said Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. “That includes providing recompense and changing practices when County employees violate the policies and cooperate with unlawful activity by the federal government.”
Marin, an immigrant who has lived in the United States for more than 20 years and has no criminal record, was detained by federal agents during a convoy-style immigration raid in August 2025, according to the lawsuit. He sustained severe injuries to his knees during the incident and was eventually taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for treatment.
During his stay at Harbor-UCLA, Marin was reportedly chained to a bed, medicated, and questioned about his immigration status in the presence of federal agents despite his objections, and isolated from his family and counsel. Attorneys say he endured physical injuries and continues to suffer psychological and emotional harm stemming from his hospitalization. At one point, the complaint says, a nurse made a joke about Marin being sent to Guantanamo Bay, the detention camp in Cuba where terrorism suspects are held.
“Harbor staff treated Mr. Marin with cruel disregard for his mental and physical condition,” said Eduardo Casas, MALDEF staff attorney. “His medical team treated federal agents as a gracious host would, and even joked about whether they were taking him to Guantanamo Bay, a place associated with the extrajudicial torture of its inmates. Harbor was complicit in Mr. Marin's unlawful arrest and will be held accountable for it.”
In February, MALDEF filed a California Tort Claims Act (CTCA) claim on Marin’s behalf with Los Angeles County regarding the treatment he received at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Los Angeles County denied the claim in March, leading to the filing of this lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Harbor staff’s conduct violated Marin’s right to privacy in his medical information and treatment, which resulted in emotional and other damages. It also alleges that the hospital provided Marin unequal treatment because of his immigration status and failed to protect his rights as a patient. The suit also alleges that Harbor participated in false imprisonment.
Attorneys seek a declaration that the defendants’ policies and practices were unlawful, as well as statutory and compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.
“The whole incident was traumatic and I remain unable to meet my basic needs coping with the fallout,” said Marin. “Harbor helped ICE turn me into a prisoner in my own hospital room, while the agents made racist comments, sifted through my food with their bare hands, and behaved as if the agents were the patients. Harbor treated me like a criminal and was complicit with ICE.”
The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
Read the complaint HERE.