Border Patrol Chief Defiantly Asserts Federal Authority Over Los Angeles Amid Mayor Bass's Opposition

Los Angeles, CA – A direct confrontation unfolded in MacArthur Park on Monday between U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, highlighting escalating tensions over federal immigration enforcement in the sanctuary city. Chief Bovino, speaking to Fox News National Correspondent Bill Melugin, issued a stark message to Mayor Bass, who had demanded an end to the federal operations.

Chief Bovino, who leads the El Centro Sector, asserted the federal agency's unwavering presence, stating: > "I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles." This statement came as heavily armed federal agents, including Border Patrol and military units, conducted an operation in the park, a neighborhood with a significant immigrant population. The operation, which involved military vehicles and agents on horseback, disrupted local activities, including a children's summer camp.

Mayor Bass swiftly arrived at the scene, condemning the federal action as "outrageous and un-American" and a "political stunt" designed to instill fear. She expressed concern for the community, noting that children at a summer camp were ushered indoors due to the presence of armed agents. Local officials echoed her sentiments, characterizing the display as a "city under siege" and a "show of force."

The incident is part of a broader federal push for aggressive immigration enforcement, often operating far from the physical border under authorities like the 100-mile border zone rule. Chief Bovino's sector has previously conducted operations deep within California, such as "Operation Return to Sender" in Kern County, targeting individuals for deportation. These actions underscore the Trump administration's commitment to mass deportations and its willingness to deploy significant resources to achieve these goals, often clashing with state and local sanctuary policies.

The Department of Justice has also filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles, challenging its sanctuary city ordinances that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This ongoing legal and political battle suggests that such federal operations and the resulting local opposition are likely to continue. The confrontation in MacArthur Park serves as a vivid illustration of the deepening divide between federal immigration mandates and local governance in California.