Border Patrol Agents Stage Show of Force at Newsom Event
Introduction to the Incident
As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepared to announce that he would take on President Trump’s redistricting plans on behalf of California, scores of federal immigration agents massed outside the venue Thursday. Newsom was set to speak at the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles, when Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino, who has been leading the immigration operations in California, arrived in Little Tokyo, flanked by agents in helmets, camouflage, masks and holding guns.
Statement from Border Patrol Sector Chief
“We’re here making Los Angeles a safer place since we won’t have politicians that’ll do that, we do that ourselves,” Bovino told a Fox 11 reporter in Little Tokyo. “We’re glad to be here, we’re not going anywhere.” When the reporter noted that Newsom was nearby, Bovino responded, “I don’t know where he’s at.”
Reaction from Newsom’s Office
Newsom’s office took to X to share that agents were outside, posting: “BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!” The apparent raid Thursday, during which one person was detained, comes amid calls from elected officials for an end to renewed immigration operations across the L.A. area.
Background on Immigration Operations
Federal agents have carried out a string of raids over the past week, arresting several people at car washes and Home Depot stores. Immigrant advocates and city leaders had hoped such sweeps had stopped with a federal judge’s July order, affirmed by a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Aug. 1. The courts ruled that immigration officials cannot racially profile people or use roving patrols to target immigrants.
Mayor’s Response
In a press conference outside of the museum following the operation, Mayor Karen Bass said, “there’s no way this was a coincidence.” “This was widely publicized that the governor and many of our other elected officials were having a press conference to talk about redistricting, and they decided they were going to come and thumb their nose in front of the governor’s face. Why would you do that? That is unbelievably disrespectful, it’s a provocative act,” Bass said.
Department of Homeland Security Response
In an emailed response, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Bass, “must be misinformed.” “Our law enforcement operations are about enforcing the law — not about Gavin Newsom,” she said. McLaughlin added that U.S. Customs and Border Protection “patrols all areas of Los Angeles every day with over 40 teams on the ground to make LA safe.”
Details of the Arrest
Video captured of the scene showed federal agents on either side of a man, in a red shirt and jeans, whose hands were cuffed behind his back. As a passerby shouted that they were “cowards,” Bovino said “well done.” Carlos Franco said he works with Angel, the man who was arrested by federal agents, and said Angel was in Little Tokyo delivering strawberries. His delivery van was still parked outside the museum more than an hour after he was arrested, Franco said.
Historical Context and Community Reaction
Fujioka said the agents’ appearance in Little Tokyo “is a parallel of what happened in 1942,” and noting that the museum was built on the location where L.A. residents of Japanese descent “were told to come here and put on buses and sent to camps.” At 73, Fujioka is a third-generation Japanese American. He said about 20 people were arrested during ICE raids two weeks ago at area restaurants and businesses in and near Little Tokyo Village Plaza. “What’s happening right now is reprehensible,” he said.
Conclusion
The incident at the Japanese American National Museum highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration authorities and local leaders in California. The show of force by Border Patrol agents at an event where Gov. Gavin Newsom was speaking has been widely condemned as a provocative act. The continued raids and arrests in the L.A. area have raised concerns about racial profiling and the violation of court orders. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the state and federal governments will address these issues.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of the Border Patrol agents’ presence at the Japanese American National Museum?
A: The Border Patrol agents were conducting "roving patrol duties" and detained one person, according to Sector Chief Gregory Bovino.
Q: Did the agents’ presence coincide with Gov. Newsom’s press conference?
A: Yes, the agents arrived at the museum while Newsom was preparing to speak, leading some to suggest that their presence was a deliberate attempt to intimidate or disrupt the event.
Q: What has been the reaction from local leaders and community members?
A: Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders have condemned the raids and arrests, citing concerns about racial profiling and the violation of court orders. Community members have also expressed outrage and fear, with some drawing parallels to historical incidents of discrimination and oppression.
Q: What is the current status of the immigration operations in the L.A. area?
A: The operations are ongoing, despite calls from elected officials for an end to the renewed immigration operations. The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to allow mass deportation efforts across Southern California, seeking to lift a ban on "roving patrols" implemented after a lower court found such tactics likely violate the 4th Amendment.
