Border Patrol Chief Relieved of Command Same Day He Testified Before Congress Raising Retaliation Concerns
Shared By Peter Boykin – American Political Commentator / Citizen Journalist
Border Patrol Chief Relieved of Command Same Day He Testified Before Congress, Raising Retaliation Concerns
Border Patrol Chief Relieved of Command Same Day He Testified Before Congress Raising Retaliation Concerns
Gregory K. Bovino, the chief patrol agent of the El Centro Border Patrol sector in California’s imperial valley, offered a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee and House Homeland Security Committee on July 12, 2023.
According to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, within hours of finishing his testimony, Mr. Bovino was informed that he had been relieved of his command at the El Centro sector and “Reassigned to a vague, indefinite, and temporary headquarters assignment.” The timing of Mr. Bovino’s reassignment raised suspicions for Mr. Comer and Mr. Green that the CBP had reassigned the Border Patrol official in retaliation for his testimony.
The lawmakers specifically asked for all CBP documents and communications relating to Mr. Bovino’s employment.
According to a CBP statement obtained by The Washington Times, Mr. Bovino was previously reassigned to a headquarters position in 2021, and his subordinates ‘did an excellent job’ handling the El Centro border sector while he was gone.
Mr. Bovino was one of several Border Patrol sector chiefs who were invited to testify at a House Oversight Committee hearing earlier this year (2023), but Mr. Comer accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of blocking some of the Border Patrol officials from doing so.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez and Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin did testify, but Mr. Bovino and others did not appear for the hearing.
“This is necessary oversight, which you and your Department are attempting to block.” After Mr. Bovino and other Border Patrol officials were blocked from attending the Feb. 7 hearing, Mr. Comer sent a letter to Mr. Miller, requesting that he help facilitate interview times for Mr. Bovino and the other Border Patrol officials.
Source: NTD
