The former US border patrol chief, Greg Bovino, has defended the controversial deportation operation in Minneapolis, describing the withdrawal of agents from the city as a "surrender" by the Trump administration. In an interview with the BBC, Bovino stated that he was "not responding" to a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman shot dead during the operation, praising the officers involved and downplaying the legal action.
Background on the Operation
Bovino, who was removed from his role shortly after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January, faced significant backlash following the incidents, which were captured on video. The shootings triggered bipartisan protests, leading Trump to announce a withdrawal of hundreds of immigration agents from the city, stating he was "going to de-escalate a little bit".
Earlier this month, Good's family filed two civil lawsuits against the Trump administration, alleging wrongful death and conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. The lawsuits name several officials, including Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good, for their roles in the operation that led to her death. The family claims that the government's actions created "an unprecedented environment for state-sponsored violence".
Legal Reactions
In response to Bovino's remarks, the family's lawyers accused him of "spewing propaganda" and emphasized that he could not act as "judge, jury, and executioner". They expressed anticipation for the depositions of Bovino and other defendants involved in the case. A White House spokesperson previously dismissed the lawsuits as "baseless".
