California Governor Gavin Newsom was set to announce his plan to challenge President Trump’s redistricting proposal on Thursday when an unexpected scene unfolded outside the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Dozens of federal immigration agents, armed and dressed in helmets, camouflage, and masks, appeared in Little Tokyo just steps from the event. Leading them was Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino, who has overseen immigration operations across California.
“We’re here making Los Angeles a safer place. Since we won’t have politicians that’ll do that, we do it ourselves,” Bovino told a Fox 11 reporter. When asked about Newsom’s nearby presence, he claimed, “I don’t know where he’s at.”
Newsom’s office responded on X, posting: “BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!”
The operation, which resulted in one arrest, came amid renewed immigration sweeps across Los Angeles over the past week. Federal agents have detained individuals at car washes, Home Depot locations, and other public areas, drawing criticism from local leaders and immigrant advocates. Many believed such raids had ended after a federal judge’s July ruling — later upheld by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals — prohibiting racial profiling and roving patrols targeting immigrants.
Speaking outside the museum, Mayor Karen Bass called the timing “no coincidence,” accusing the agents of staging a provocative act during a highly publicized press event. “They’re talking about disorder in Los Angeles, and they are the source of the disorder in Los Angeles right now,” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security pushed back on the accusations. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin insisted the operation had nothing to do with Newsom, saying CBP patrols Los Angeles “every day with over 40 teams on the ground to make LA safe.”
