‘The Pitt’ shows ICE in an emergency room. Here’s how it’s played out in real life

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What occurs when ICE agents come into a hospital’s emergency room?

As a big fan of “The Resident,” I was really intrigued by the latest episode, “5:00 p.m.” from Season 2. It tackles some seriously heavy stuff, and this episode really brings it all together. Throughout the season, the show’s been exploring things like the high cost of healthcare – which keeps coming up – plus addiction, trauma, and the experiences of detained immigrants. This episode, the eleventh of the season, really puts that last issue front and center, and it’s powerful stuff.

R. Scott Gemmill, the creator of “The Pitt,” revealed to The Times that an upcoming episode will focus on ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Discussion about this episode increased recently after Gemmill shared on the podcast “The Town” that HBO asked him to ensure it presents a balanced perspective and acknowledges multiple viewpoints on the issue.

Whether the film accurately represents these events is open to discussion, but it does effectively show what’s been occurring in medical facilities nationwide – including here in California – with ICE conducting raids.

Television

As a total film and TV buff, I was really fascinated to hear R. Scott Gemmill, the mind behind HBO Max’s “The Pitt,” talk about how unexpectedly popular the show has become. He shared some insights into what he’s cooking up for Season 2, and interestingly, explained the reason he chose to set the story around the Fourth of July. It’s cool to get a peek behind the scenes from the creator himself!

The episode opens with ICE agents, wearing tactical gear and masks, bringing a woman named Pranita (played by Ramona DuBarry) into the hospital’s emergency room. She’s restrained with zip ties, and the agents explain she injured her shoulder during a raid. One agent tells the hospital staff they need to examine her before starting the paperwork for her arrest.

Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif) carefully checks her bruised shoulder. Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) asks, “You mentioned she fell?”

An agent reported that during a check of a restaurant, all the kitchen staff ran away, and one woman was pushed down some alley stairs.

Robby, McKay, and the medical team checked her over and believe she probably tore her rotator cuff. They said she needs X-rays to see if any bones are broken. McKay offered to call someone for her, but the ICE agent quickly stopped him, saying no phone calls were allowed.

Robby told McKay he wanted to get the process moving quickly and have the team finish up as soon as possible, suggesting they locate X-ray to help speed things along.

As the episode unfolds, his motivations become easier to understand. News that ICE is present causes patients and staff to flee the hospital – a situation ripped straight from current events.

During a surge in ICE raids in Los Angeles last June, The Times reported that many Southern California medical providers were seeing more patients miss appointments for ongoing care and regular checkups. People were afraid of being detained, so they stayed home. “It’s a really scary and disruptive time, making it hard to care for our patients,” said Jim Mangia, president of St. John’s Community Health, in an interview with The Times.

Reports have surfaced of ICE agents detaining individuals near healthcare facilities. While not all claims were true, these incidents sparked protests and lawsuits. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law, SB 81, in September. This law prevents federal agents from entering private areas of hospitals and clinics – like patient rooms or consultation spaces – without a proper warrant or court order.

As a critic, I’ve been following the details of how Immigration and Customs Enforcement handles medical situations, and it’s a complicated issue. What I’ve learned is that ICE officers are permitted to accompany detainees when they go to the hospital for treatment, and they can stay in waiting rooms and other public areas while care is being given. Importantly, emergency rooms are legally obligated to provide that care, regardless of a patient’s immigration status.

Dana explains that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) guarantees emergency care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, insurance coverage, or immigration status. This federal law applies to hospitals that accept Medicare funding.

However, regarding individuals being held in custody, privacy is a key concern – a right that all patients deserve, no matter their immigration status.

According to a Kaiser Health News report, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stayed with a Salvadoran woman in Los Angeles around the clock after she experienced a medical issue while in custody. The woman’s lawyer said agents urged her to claim she was healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital, and told her she wouldn’t be allowed to contact her family or legal counsel until she agreed.

This moment echoes a later scene where Robby asks the agents to remain with Pranita.

He yelled that my presence had been a constant problem, making an already difficult situation worse. He explained the hospital was critically understaffed, having recently lost five nurses and half of the cleaning crew, all since I arrived. He emphasized that patients come to the hospital needing help – whether sick, injured, and regardless of their legal status – and deserve emergency care. He said serious conditions like tuberculosis, measles, and broken bones weren’t being treated because staff were afraid to come to work.

The impassioned speech doesn’t have the intended effect. The ICE agent comes back for Pranita and informs her she’s free to leave. A nurse named Jesse (Ned Brower) points out Pranita needs a sling for her arm and offers to quickly put it on. However, the agent roughly grabs her, causing her pain, and Jesse protests, saying, “You’re hurting her!”

A brief fight breaks out between the agent and Jesse, who is then handcuffed with a zip tie and taken to a detention center along with the other detainee.

When the medical team returned to check on patients, they discovered one person who had been waiting for treatment – and had seen the emergency – was now gone.

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2026-03-20 21:31