On Thursday morning, a surprising scene unfolded outside the Japanese American National Museum as U.S. Border Patrol agents appeared while Governor Gavin Newsom and other state and local leaders were conducting a news conference. The press briefing was intended to announce a significant redistricting plan, but the presence of masked agents in trucks outside the venue quickly shifted the focus of the event.
According to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, the agents were performing routine roving patrols in the area. Bovino confirmed to CBS Los Angeles that one individual was arrested outside the museum during this unexpected operation. This incident raised eyebrows, particularly given the context of the press conference aimed at discussing local governance.
Governor Newsom's office took to social media to address the situation, posting a video on X, which highlighted the agents' presence. The message declared, "BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!" This bold statement underscored the tension between state leadership and federal enforcement agencies.
In response to the events, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, issued a statement clarifying the intentions behind the Border Patrol's operations. She emphasized that, "Our law enforcement operations are about enforcing the law—not about Gavin Newsom." McLaughlin further noted that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts daily patrols throughout Los Angeles with over 40 teams on the ground, asserting their commitment to making the city safe.
In the wake of the incident, Mayor Karen Bass, who had earlier hosted a separate news conference advocating for an end to "reckless immigration raids," arrived at the museum to address the situation. Bass condemned the agents' presence as a "provocative act" and expressed her discontent, stating, "The governor is inside having a press conference; there was no reason in the world for them to come here." She argued that the Border Patrol's actions were unnecessary and disrespectful, indicating they had intentionally chosen to confront the governor during his address.
Mayor Bass firmly stated her belief that the Border Patrol's presence was not a mere coincidence, suggesting that the agents were deliberately attempting to assert their presence in front of the governor. This incident has sparked discussions about the intersection of state governance and federal immigration enforcement, highlighting ongoing tensions in California's approach to immigration policy.
