Border Patrol Chief Confronts Violence in Chicago
On Thursday, Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino took to the streets of Chicago, responding to dismissive remarks made by Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman regarding violence against federal immigration enforcement personnel.
Facilities operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have witnessed several riots as opposition to the agency’s role in targeting undocumented immigrants grows. During a recent segment on “CNN Newsnight,” co-host John Roberts featured a clip of Goldman downplaying the violence before turning to Bovino for his insights.
In response, Bovino expressed his disbelief at Goldman’s comments, saying, “You know, that deputy is completely blind. Thankfully, I’m still with people who are alive. Maybe the deputy doesn’t want us to be with people who are alive.”
Bovino continued, “How about he come here and walk with us a few streets? [Governor J.B.] Pritzker, let us take a walk and see what violence really looks like, because it happens to our ICE and Border Patrol agents every day.” He pointed out that incidents like a Border Patrol agent being hit by a vehicle occur regularly, which highlights the dangers faced by those in the field.
Goldman, during his discussion, noted an unprecedented “percent uptick” in violence against agents, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
In a serious turn of events, Juan Espinoza Martinez, allegedly a member of the Latin Kings gang and an undocumented immigrant, was arrested for reportedly offering a $10,000 bounty for Bovino’s death and an additional $2,000 for information about him, as per the Department of Homeland Security.
Videos have surfaced showing some rioters in Chicago openly calling for violence against ICE agents, demanding they be arrested or even shot.
A recent incident in Dallas involved a shooting at an ICE office that resulted in two fatalities, with the assailant subsequently taking their own life. Following that event, the facility has remained closed, and ten individuals have faced charges for attempted murder related to previous incidents.
