Los Angeles Congress Democrats demand answers on the Border Patrol outside news events
Two weeks ago, dozens of masked, gun-like federal immigration agents gathered in front of the National Museum of Japan in downtown Los Angeles.
Inside the museum, Gov. Gavin Newsom, surrounded by nearly all powerful Democrats in California, is preparing to announce that he will undertake President Trump’s re-division plan through a special campaign. Outside, Border Patrol head Gregory Bovino surrounded dozens of agents who looked like they were fighting.
Now, in a letter to the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, many Southern California members asked for answers about law enforcement actions outside of news conferences and the decision-making process behind them.
“We just wanted to answer some questions,” said Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). “I was at the Newsom press conference. It was shocking that as many as a hundred federal officials had appeared.”
The letter was sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, acting U.S. immigration and customs executive director Todd Lyons and White House border adviser Tom Homan. It was signed by at least 12 other congressional Democrats, including Senators Alex Padilla and Judy Chu (Montrey Park), Gil Cisneros, Covina, Robert Garcia (Long Beach), Luz Rivas, North Hollywood, Ted Diazbarrance, Nanette Diaz barragan (Nanette Diaz barragan (sante san pedro) and Brad and Brad (Sherman) and Brad (Sherman).
A letter answering many questions was raised in writing before September 4.
The organization asked who initially requested the deployment of agents outside the National Museum of Japan on August 14; whether the theme of the Newsom press conference was a consideration in deciding to deploy federal agents; and whether the magnitude of the force is standardized; and which operating standards are used to determine the magnitude and composition of the deployment force.
As agents criticized outside the building, Newsom announced a plan to counter the Republican-led re-divided drive to redefine California’s own congressional district in support of Democrats. Last week, the California Legislature approved a special election in November, and voters will decide the fate of the measure.
The letter also requested details about the two arrests during the Little Tokyo operation and whether Homeland Security knew that the people would be present when deciding to take immigration enforcement actions. One arrested man happened to be delivering strawberries while an agent called by the museum. He is now facing deportation from Mexico.
“It’s outrageous that Trump and his supporters call us on us when we do a re-dividing press conference,” Zhu said. “Obviously, it’s a kind of trying to scare us and send a political message that he’s going to use law enforcement to scare us.”
