Workers Condemn Border Patrol Bovino Reassignment
San Diego, CA — Following news of Gregory Bovino’s demotion and reassignment to the El Centro Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, Service Employees International Union–United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) and Service Employees International Union Local 221 (SEIU 221), together representing more than 16,000 workers across Southern California, released the following statement:
“We stand with the San Diego and Imperial County Central Labor Council in strongly condemning the reassignment of Gregory Bovino to the El Centro Sector of Border Patrol. Our communities should not be the dumping ground for reckless and dangerous law enforcement officials who trample on the Constitution when interacting with residents, regardless of their immigration status. If Bovino is not safe for Minnesota, he is not safe for California.
“In response to the Administration’s enforcement campaign of violence modeled after Bovino’s unconstitutional tactics, working people have demonstrated powerful solidarity that has been on full display as people in Minneapolis and across Minnesota organized a historic work stoppage to protest federal agents’ unconstitutional actions and alleged racial profiling. Minnesotans’ activism and deep commitment to justice, accountability, and a future rooted in freedom is an example for all of us as we continue to peacefully demonstrate against an Administration that has unleashed a wave of violence that has terrorized working-class communities, attempted to silence dissent, and eroded our democracy.
“The announcement that Bovino will return to the El Centro Sector of Border Patrol should not be celebrated by anyone who claims to be on the side of workers. His departure from Minnesota and return to California offers little solace to working families who have endured the indignity of Border Patrol and ICE raids, checkpoints, and state-sponsored violence. Border Patrol agents who perpetuate this culture of violence have claimed the lives of workers and inflicted lasting harm on our families. If we are to keep our communities safe, working families must reject the return of a violent law enforcement official to California.
“We stand with working families across San Diego and Imperial County in declaring Gregory Bovino persona non grata and urge state and congressional leaders to reject his reassignment to El Centro. We demand accountability. We demand justice. We demand aggressive oversight of DHS actions. We demand the Senate reject the DHS Appropriations bill. We demand the impeachment of Secretary Kristi Noem and meaningful congressional oversight. For our communities and for our democracy, we demand ICE and Border Patrol out of our communities—and Bovino out of a job.”
Background
In January 2025, even before the Trump Administration began, Gregory Bovino led high-profile immigration enforcement raids across Kern County, separating families, ignoring constitutional protections, and traumatizing entire neighborhoods as hooded Border Patrol agents indiscriminately questioned and detained people on their way to work. Californians are deeply familiar with his record—from the fields of the Central and Imperial Valleys to the streets of Los Angeles and Oxnard.
According to the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight, under Bovino’s prior leadership of the El Centro Sector, government data reflected “the highest ratio of use of force to assault of any Border Patrol sector in the nation,” far exceeding that of other sectors nationwide. Bovino’s legacy is one of unchecked violence, and Californians should not accept its return.
SEIU–United Service Workers West represents more than 50,000 janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other property service workers across California.
SEIU Local 221 represents more than 13,000 workers across San Diego and Imperial counties, including county and city employees, school district workers, Head Start, Red Cross, court and clinic employees—workers who care for our communities every day.
SEIU United Service Workers West, 828 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA