Latest news with #Bovino
Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Border Patrol Chief Links Efforts to Darth Vader in May the 4th Posts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Gregory Bovino, a U.S. Border Patrol chief in Southern California, marked "Star Wars Day" with a social media post featuring a "Border Wars" trailer that casts the El Centro Sector Border Patrol as Darth Vader battling "fake news," sanctuary cities, fentanyl, human traffickers and cartel terrorists. "Even Darth Vader knows the importance of border security!!!!!!" Bovino wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. Newsweek has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters For much of Star Wars, Darth Vader serves as a Sith Lord largely leading the oppressive Galactic Empire and battling those who resist tyranny. Though portrayed as a villain for majority of the series, he ultimately seeks redemption at the end of the original trilogy. President Donald Trump campaigned on illegal immigration and has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Since taking office just over 100 days ago, his administration has detained and deported thousands of people. Through executive orders, Trump has expanded CBP's authority by broadening expedited removal procedures, allowing deportations without court hearings, and directing increases in hiring for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Bovino is the chief agent of The El Centro Sector, which has four Border Patrol stations, Centro, Calexico, Indio, and Riverside, and is responsible for 70 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Migrants sit by the iron fence waiting to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol near the Jacumba Hot Springs after crossing the US-Mexico border on June 13, 2024, in San Diego. Migrants sit by the iron fence waiting to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol near the Jacumba Hot Springs after crossing the US-Mexico border on June 13, 2024, in San Diego. Qian Weizhong/VCG via AP What To Know In a Sunday social media post marking May 4, celebrated as "Star Wars Day" in a play on the phrase "May the Force Be With You," Bovino shared a video trailer of an edited Star Wars scene. The over 1-minute-long video clip depicts "episode one: Border Patrol Strikes Back." The scene features Darth Vader, who is dubbed the "Premier Sector," in reference to Bovino's El Centro Sector, fighting rebels identified as various kinds of drugs, human traffickers, sanctuary cities, "fake news,"cartel terrorists, and an "invasion." Trump and his supporters have used the word "invasion" to describe illegal immigration to the U.S. The president has made combating drug cartels one of his immigration-related priorities. He reportedly proposed deploying U.S. troops inside Mexico to dismantle cartels, an offer Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected, telling Trump, "our territory is inviolable, our sovereignty is inviolable, our sovereignty is not for sale." The president campaigned heavily on immigration and the economy, at times linking the two in his policy proposals. He imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in an effort to curb fentanyl production and trafficking. Prominent MAGA figures have repeatedly accused legacy media outlets of spreading "fake news," a phrase Trump has long used to dismiss critical coverage. His second term has been marked by a strained relationship with the press, including changes to the White House press pool and several media-related lawsuits. In February, agents in the El Centro Sector seized approximately $213,000 worth of narcotics at an immigration checkpoint, including 17.5 pounds of cocaine and 8 pounds of methamphetamine. As of CBP data for March, there have been 11,017 land border encounters, a 94 percent drop compared to March 2024. It is not clear how many of those occurred in El Centro Sector. Meanwhile, Bovino was named in a lawsuit brought by United Farm Workers and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenging the legality of a recent immigration roundup in California in which 78 people were arrested. Earlier this week, federal judge Jennifer L. Thurston in California issued a preliminary injunction barring Border Patrol agents "from conducting detentive stops in this District unless, pre-stop, the detaining agent has reasonable suspicion that the person to be stopped is a noncitizen who is present within the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law, as required by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution," according to court documents reviewed by Newsweek. The judge also ordered, "Any Border Patrol agent who conducts a detentive stop in this District SHALL, as soon as practicable, document the facts and circumstances surrounding the stop in a narrative form." Bovino's post wasn't the only border-related message from a government spokesperson on Sunday. The White House shared an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image of Trump holding a red lightsaber—a weapon commonly associated with the dark side in the Star Wars universe. Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to to bring Sith Lords, Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, & well known MS-13 Gang Members, back into our Galaxy. You're not the Rebellion—you're the Empire. May the 4th be with you. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 4, 2025 What People Are Saying The White House said in an X post on Sunday: "Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to to bring Sith Lords, Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, & well known MS-13 Gang Members, back into our Galaxy. You're not the Rebellion—you're the Empire. May the 4th be with you." Harry Sisson, a liberal political social media influencer, replied to the White House's post on Sunday: "If Trump carries a red lightsaber, that means he's part of the Sith and is evil. Fitting!" Chase Oliver, 2024 Libertarian presidential nominee, responded to the White House's post: "You tweet this out while you try to blockade and tax free trade routes like the villains in Episode 1. You are manufacturing reasons for war to bolster your own power like the villains of Episode 2. You are seeking to take power from the legislature and concentrate that power into a single man like the villain of Episode 3. I can go on and on, but the truth is, in the hearts of Star Wars fans, we know who the Empire is and who the fights for the Rebellion. Trump is less of a Sith Lord and more like a Hutt gangster." What Happens Next? Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration remains a top priority for his administration.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump White House Engages in ‘Star Wars' Cosplay to Demonize Immigrants
The Trump White House shared a graphic image of Trump, veiny biceps and other inhuman muscles bulging, holding a red light saber in celebration of May the Fourth — an informal Star Wars holiday and pun on 'May the Force be with you.' Meanwhile, the administration's chief Border Patrol agent posted a video depicting the agency as Darth Vader killing rebel soldiers. The administration, apparently, doesn't mind that these depictions seem to align them with the antagonists of the film franchise. 'Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to to bring Sith Lords, Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, & well known MS-13 Gang Members, back into our Galaxy,' the White House posted on social media alongside the likely AI-generated image. 'You're not the Rebellion—you're the Empire. May the 4th be with you.' Trump, who has promised to deport millions of immigrants, has deported thousands since taking office (139,000 according to the White House), including sending hundreds of men he claims are gang members to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador without due process. Keen Star Wars fans quickly pointed out that Trump's red light saber suggests he is a member of the Empire led by the Sith, bad guys in the films who practice the dark side of the Force. The Jedis are the heroes in the Rebellion who use the Force, an energy source that permeates and connects everything in the universe, for good — including to fight against the evil Empire. 'Embarrassing Stalinist level propaganda from Trump's White House,' Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman posted on X (formerly Twitter). 'This would work better if the AI represented Trump as Jaba the Hut.' A U.S. Border Patrol video, titled 'Border Wars' and posted Sunday by Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino, took a clip from Star Wars spinoff Rogue One where Darth Vader massacres rebel forces. Border Patrol labeled Vader as 'Premier Sector,' referring to the agency's El Centro Sector, which covers much of the southern border with Mexico. The clip opens with Star Wars-style titles: 'Episode one: Border Patrol strikes back. The Premier Sector, in pursuit of a ship occupied by threats to the United States, is intercepted on its way to the galaxy's most notorious sanctuary for lawlessness… Mos Eisley… AKA California…' (In the films, Mos Eisley is a spaceport on Tatooine where aliens of all kinds gather from around the galaxy.) The video then cuts to Border Patrol Vader wielding a red light saber to kill rebel forces that the video labeled as fentanyl, sanctuary cities, cocaine, human smugglers, invasion, and fake news. X users jumped on the post to inform Bovino that Border Patrol is identifying with the films' antagonists. One account responded to Bovino with a meme that asked 'Are we the baddies?' Bovino replied, defending the artistic choices: 'I think ole Darth had the ultimate situational awareness against threats to the homeland. So do we which is why our border is the most controlled now than ever before.' Another user asked, 'Just for clarification, who were the bad guys in Star Wars?' 'We've depicted who the bad guys were in this video,' Bovino replied. 'Watch again as they are labeled as such. 😆 🤣. 🇺🇸 🇺🇲.' Not wanting to be left out, Elon Musk, the head of Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, joined in with a depiction of himself holding a red light saber. Even in their confused jokes and AI-generated memes, the administration cannot escape the uncomfortable truth: They are the baddies. More from Rolling Stone Trump Lies About Gas and Grocery Prices, Defends Tariffs Trump Says 'I Don't Know' When Asked if He Has to 'Uphold the Constitution' Republicans Want You to Pay More at the Pharmacy - Or Die Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
American women arrested at California immigration checkpoint for attempting to smuggle children: 'Unbearable'
Two American women were arrested at a California immigration checkpoint after border patrol agents determined they were attempting to smuggle two children into the United States. The women were arrested by Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector on Tuesday at an immigration checkpoint on Highway 86 near Westmorland, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a news release on Thursday. Authorities reported one woman was driving while the other was in the front passenger seat, and two little girls, ages 10 and 12, were asleep in the back. The identities of the adults were not released. Ice Highlights Arrests Of 5 Illegal Aliens Convicted Of Violent Crimes, Including Against Children The woman driving initially told agents they were traveling to California from Arizona, but later told authorities they had come to the U.S. from Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry. Discrepancies in the driver's story prompted an Indio Station Border Patrol agent to refer their vehicle for secondary inspection, which is where it was discovered that the children's photos and names did not match what was on their ID cards. Read On The Fox News App During questioning, agents learned that the girls were not related to either woman in the vehicle and that the driver did not know their mother. Florida Police Officer Injured After Illegal Alien Crashes Into Marked Patrol Car The little girls were ultimately identified as unaccompanied minors from Mexico, CBP said. Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino, of the El Centro Sector, said this incident is "how the trafficking of children starts." "It's almost unbearable to think about what heinous crimes await children who aren't with their parents," Bovino said. "The border environment has been rife with this type of activity over the past several years, however, the focus has now shifted, and heavy sentences await smugglers who hurt kids." Both adult women have been charged with alien smuggling and their vehicle was seized as article source: American women arrested at California immigration checkpoint for attempting to smuggle children: 'Unbearable'
Fox News
11-04-2025
- Fox News
American women arrested at California immigration checkpoint for attempting to smuggle children: 'Unbearable'
Two American women were arrested at a California immigration checkpoint after border patrol agents determined they were attempting to smuggle two children into the United States. The women were arrested by Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector on Tuesday at an immigration checkpoint on Highway 86 near Westmorland, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a news release on Thursday. Authorities reported one woman was driving while the other was in the front passenger seat, and two little girls, ages 10 and 12, were asleep in the back. The identities of the adults were not released. The woman driving initially told agents they were traveling to California from Arizona, but later told authorities they had come to the U.S. from Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry. Discrepancies in the driver's story prompted an Indio Station Border Patrol agent to refer their vehicle for secondary inspection, which is where it was discovered that the children's photos and names did not match what was on their ID cards. During questioning, agents learned that the girls were not related to either woman in the vehicle and that the driver did not know their mother. The little girls were ultimately identified as unaccompanied minors from Mexico, CBP said. Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino, of the El Centro Sector, said this incident is "how the trafficking of children starts." "It's almost unbearable to think about what heinous crimes await children who aren't with their parents," Bovino said. "The border environment has been rife with this type of activity over the past several years, however, the focus has now shifted, and heavy sentences await smugglers who hurt kids." Both adult women have been charged with alien smuggling and their vehicle was seized as evidence.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Border Patrol sued for tactics used in Kern County immigration raid
ACLU attorneys representing the United Farm Workers and five Kern County residents have sued the head of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Border Patrol officials, alleging the Border Patrol's three-day raid in the southern San Joaquin Valley in early January amounted to a 'fishing expedition' that indiscriminately targeted people of color who appeared to be farmworkers or day laborers. The complaint, filed Wednesday in federal court in the Eastern District of California, alleges that agents from the Border Patrol's El Centro sector violated protections afforded by federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they rounded up and deported scores of laborers in the country without legal authorization. It seeks class-action relief for everyone subjected to the tactics, which the lawsuit describes as 'lawless sweeps, indiscriminate arrests, and coercive expulsions.' 'It's clear that this was a coordinated operation intended to sweep up as many people as possible, not based on any individualized reason, but based on their apparent race, ethnicity or occupation; arrest them and expel as many of them from the country as possible, regardless of whether they knew their rights or the consequences,' said Bree Bernwanger, an attorney with the ACLU of Northern California, one of three ACLU affiliates representing plaintiffs in the case. Asked to comment on the allegations, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol enforcement actions are "highly targeted." Any alleged or potential misconduct by agents would be referred for investigation, the agency said. A spokesperson for the Border Patrol's El Centro sector said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The El Centro sector — headquartered more than 300 miles from Kern County's sprawling farm fields and orchards — led the unusual January raid at the tail end of the Biden administration. Chief Agent Gregory Bovino, a 25-plus-year veteran who leads the Imperial County unit, headed up the operation without the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Three former Biden administration officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to share operational details, told The Times that Bovino 'went rogue' with the January raid. No higher-ups knew about the operation before watching it unspool in real time, two of the former officials said. In official statements, Bovino has justified the raid by noting that the sector's area of responsibility stretches from the border to the Oregon line, 'as mission and threat dictates.' Border Patrol officials have said the raid, dubbed Operation Return to Sender, resulted in the arrests of 78 immigrants in the country illegally, including a child rapist. The agency has not specified how many of the immigrants detained had criminal records. Advocates on the scene, meanwhile, said the operation indiscriminately targeted Latino farmworkers commuting from the fields along California Route 99 and day laborers soliciting work in the parking lots of big box stores. They estimate close to 200 people were detained. According to the legal complaint, agents swarmed businesses where farmworkers and day laborers gather, and pulled over vehicles in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, targeting people of color and questioning them about their immigration status. The complaint accuses Border Patrol agents of employing multiple unlawful practices. Among them: detaining people without reasonable suspicion that they were in the country unlawfully, in violation of the Fourth Amendment's prohibitions on unreasonable search and seizure. If people declined to answer questions about their immigration status, according to the complaint, agents conducted searches without warrants or consent. In some cases, the complaint alleges, when people who had been pulled over in their cars declined to answer questions, agents responded by 'smashing the car's windows, slashing the car's tires, and/or ordering or physically pulling people out of vehicles and handcuffing them.' At the time of the raid, the U.S. Border Patrol said Operation Return to Sender 'focused on interdicting those who have broken U.S. federal law, trafficking of dangerous substances, non-citizen criminals, and disrupting the transportation routes used by Transnational Criminal Organizations.' Instead, according to the complaint, the operation swept up people with pending immigration applications, no criminal histories and established homes in the community. Many of those deported left behind spouses and U.S.-born children, advocates told The Times. Read more: Kern County immigration raid offers glimpse into new reality for California farmworkers Under federal law, an immigration enforcement officer may, without a warrant, interrogate people about their right to be in the country, as long as people are not involuntarily detained for questioning. More intrusive encounters require reasonable suspicion that a crime is afoot, according to the Congressional Research Service. The lawsuit offers multiple examples of people it contends were treated unlawfully during the January raid. Wilder Munguia Esquivel, a 38-year-old Bakersfield resident who works as a day laborer and handyman, was standing outside Home Depot on Jan. 7 when agents in unmarked cars arrived, demanding to see people's immigration papers, according to the complaint. When Munguia Equivel backed away, the complaint says, he was handcuffed and agents rifled through his wallet. "At no point did the Border Patrol agent identify himself, explain to Mr. Munguia Esquivel why he had stopped him, explain why he had arrested him, or produce a warrant," the complaint says. "At no point did he ask Mr. Munguia Esquivel about his family, employment or community ties, or undertake any evaluation of whether he posed a flight risk." Mungia Equivel, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, was transported to El Centro and eventually released, according to the complaint. But scores of other laborers detained in the raid were transported to the El Centro Station for processing, then pressured to sign voluntary deportation agreements, according to the complaint. Agents coerced people into signing the agreements, the lawsuit says, by detaining them in holding cells without access to sleeping quarters, showers, hygiene products or sufficient food and denying them communication with attorneys or family members. It says agents directed people to sign their names on an electronic screen without informing them of their Fifth Amendment right to an immigration hearing. They received a copy of the form they had signed only after they had been expelled to Mexico, it says. At least 40 of the people arrested were expelled across the border after accepting voluntary departure, the complaint says. President Trump ran for office promising the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, initially focusing his rhetoric on tracking down undocumented immigrants who have been accused of violent crimes. His administration now says it considers all immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization to be criminals, because they have violated immigration laws. The complaint asks the court to compel the Border Patrol and its parent agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to conduct operations in compliance with the Constitution and federal statutes. 'Without court intervention, we have every reason to expect that Operation Return to Sender was just the first example of what we will continue to see from Border Patrol,' Bernwanger said. This article is part of The Times' equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California's economic divide. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
