US Border Patrol Commander Faces Fire for Threats to Protesters, Officers Told to 'Go Hard'
US Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino is under intense scrutiny after court records revealed he instructed officers to use force aggressively against protesters, viewing them as "violent rioters." In a deposition behind closed doors and under oath, Bovino allegedly told agents to arrest those who made "hyperbolic comments" during demonstrations.
According to attorneys representing the plaintiffs, including media organizations in Chicago, Bovino admitted to using tear gas without justification on multiple occasions. He was also accused of throwing the first canister of gas before being hit by a rock and claimed there is video footage of the incident. However, despite repeated requests for production, the full transcript remains under seal.
Attorneys representing both sides are frustrated with the deposition process, with government lawyers describing it as "sandbagged" while plaintiffs' lawyers lamented what they described as substantial obstruction. The case seeks a preliminary injunction to restrict the federal government's use of force in Chicago, particularly when dealing with protesters who pose no immediate threat.
Judge Sara Ellis has already prohibited agents from using gas and other riot control measures without two warnings, but Bovino's deposition raises questions about his tactics. Ellis had previously attempted to meet with Bovino daily to discuss the deportation campaign known as "Operation Midway Blitz," but the appeals court found it would infringe on the separation of powers.
Bovino has been accused of using excessive force, including tossing tear gas into a crowd without justification. Homeland Security officials claim he did so while being confronted by a hostile crowd and after agents gave warnings. However, plaintiffs' lawyers argue that Bovino and other agents repeatedly used tear gas without warning or justification on observers and protesters.
The US Border Patrol has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of deportation campaigns in recent months, with many critics arguing that the use of force is excessive and disproportionate to the threat posed by protesters. The court's decision on the preliminary injunction will likely determine whether federal agencies can continue to use aggressive tactics against protesters.
US Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino is under intense scrutiny after court records revealed he instructed officers to use force aggressively against protesters, viewing them as "violent rioters." In a deposition behind closed doors and under oath, Bovino allegedly told agents to arrest those who made "hyperbolic comments" during demonstrations.
According to attorneys representing the plaintiffs, including media organizations in Chicago, Bovino admitted to using tear gas without justification on multiple occasions. He was also accused of throwing the first canister of gas before being hit by a rock and claimed there is video footage of the incident. However, despite repeated requests for production, the full transcript remains under seal.
Attorneys representing both sides are frustrated with the deposition process, with government lawyers describing it as "sandbagged" while plaintiffs' lawyers lamented what they described as substantial obstruction. The case seeks a preliminary injunction to restrict the federal government's use of force in Chicago, particularly when dealing with protesters who pose no immediate threat.
Judge Sara Ellis has already prohibited agents from using gas and other riot control measures without two warnings, but Bovino's deposition raises questions about his tactics. Ellis had previously attempted to meet with Bovino daily to discuss the deportation campaign known as "Operation Midway Blitz," but the appeals court found it would infringe on the separation of powers.
Bovino has been accused of using excessive force, including tossing tear gas into a crowd without justification. Homeland Security officials claim he did so while being confronted by a hostile crowd and after agents gave warnings. However, plaintiffs' lawyers argue that Bovino and other agents repeatedly used tear gas without warning or justification on observers and protesters.
The US Border Patrol has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of deportation campaigns in recent months, with many critics arguing that the use of force is excessive and disproportionate to the threat posed by protesters. The court's decision on the preliminary injunction will likely determine whether federal agencies can continue to use aggressive tactics against protesters.
! Like, who tells officers to go hard on ppl just cuz they're protesting? That's so not cool. I mean, i get it, protests can get heated but that doesn't mean we gotta take things to the next level. I'm all for freedom of speech and assembly, as long as everyone is safe and respected. The fact that he admitted to using tear gas without justification like, multiple times 
is just wow. And now he's hiding behind "video footage" 
? Come on! This whole thing is super concerning and i hope the judge does something about it ASAP. We need more accountability from our law enforcement agencies, you feel?
This guy Bovino is seriously outta control 
! I mean, using tear gas on innocent people without warning? That's not policing, that's warfare 
! I don't blame the media orgs for suing him, this is a classic case of abuse of power 
. The fact that he was throwing gas before getting hit by a rock and then trying to claim it as a legit reason? 
Come on, dude! And what's with all these warnings that Homeland Security is saying he gave out? Did they just magically appear out of thin air? 
I'm low-key relieved that Judge Ellis has already put a stop to the gas nonsense, but this whole thing still smells like a cover-up 
. We need real accountability here and pronto! #JusticeForThePeople #StopTearGas #AccountabilityMatters 
this is so messed up. I mean I get it, protests can get out of hand but threatening people with physical force just seems like a whole lot of overkill. And using tear gas without warning or justification? That's just reckless 
! It Sounds Like He Was Trying To Intimidate Protesters And Use Excessive Force Against Them, Which Is TOTALLY NOT OKAY!!! 
I Also Can't Believe He Threw The First Tear Gas Canister And Then Claimed There Was Video Footage, But No One Else Has Seen It... 
. It's like, what's next? 
No way! 
We need to stand up for our rights to protest and free speech 
! The gov should be working with us not against us 
. Can't we all just get along? 
the US Border Patrol Commander is in serious trouble after admitting to using tear gas without justification on multiple occasions! Interesting 
... what we got here is a system where those in power are more concerned with maintaining control than with serving the public interest 
... and now they're trying to silence anyone who speaks out against this kind of behavior? 
that's when you know something is seriously off kilter 
... we need some real accountability here 
... the people have a right to protest and express themselves without fear of violence or intimidation 
?
And what's with the tear gas thing? It's just not cool. I've seen it cause so much harm to people's eyes & lungs... can't we find other ways to deal with protests that don't involve harming innocent ppl? 
... I mean, what kind of commander tells their agents to "go hard" on peaceful protesters? 
... I don't get why the government is trying to keep the full transcript under seal either. Transparency is key in situations like this. And what's up with Judge Sara Ellis having to try and meet with Bovino daily about Operation Midway Blitz? That sounds super stressful for her too 
. Anyways, it's time for some serious reforms at the US Border Patrol 
. I'm hoping the court decides on that preliminary injunction and puts a stop to this kind of behavior 
. It's time for our agencies to work together with protesters and communities, not against them 
.
. And get this - he claims there's video footage of the incident, but it's not being released because some lawyers are having issues with the deposition process 
. The fact that Judge Sara Ellis already put rules in place about not using gas without warnings is a good start 
. We need to make sure our leaders are acting responsibly and with respect for the law 
.
. This whole thing is giving me major #JusticeForProtesters vibes