El Centro residents protest reported return of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino
On Thursday, a handful of residents across the street from the El Centro Border Patrol station protested the return of former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino.
According to reports, Bovino will return to El Centro. That has members of the community on edge. Bovino was the face of aggressive immigration raids in Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and Minneapolis.
Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen said he's concerned the brutal tactics seen in Minneapolis will be coming back with Bovino.
"My concern is with the chief, the self-proclaimed commander of the Border Patrol, returning home," he said. "Will these officers feel emboldened to do something different?
KPBS has not independently confirmed that Bovino has been reassigned to El Centro, where he was previously chief of patrol. Luellen says the Imperial Valley deserves better and a better explanation from the Trump administration.
"The El Centro sector is the premier sector for Border Patrol." Luellen said. "Why are we treated as a wasteland, as some place where they could send their their political scraps, their failed projects so that we can deal with the consequences of emboldened and tyrannical federal agents?"
Residents say they'll be back here protesting again on Friday.
According to reports, Bovino will return to El Centro. That has members of the community on edge. Bovino was the face of aggressive immigration raids in Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and Minneapolis.
Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen said he's concerned the brutal tactics seen in Minneapolis will be coming back with Bovino.
"My concern is with the chief, the self-proclaimed commander of the Border Patrol, returning home," he said. "Will these officers feel emboldened to do something different?
KPBS has not independently confirmed that Bovino has been reassigned to El Centro, where he was previously chief of patrol. Luellen says the Imperial Valley deserves better and a better explanation from the Trump administration.
"The El Centro sector is the premier sector for Border Patrol." Luellen said. "Why are we treated as a wasteland, as some place where they could send their their political scraps, their failed projects so that we can deal with the consequences of emboldened and tyrannical federal agents?"
Residents say they'll be back here protesting again on Friday.