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Krishnamoorthi seeks removal of CBP commander Bovino
He said a judge found the use of force against peaceful protesters in Chicago was misrepresented by the CBP commander.
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Anushka Pathak - Wed, 04, Feb 2026
- 15:16 EST
- 13
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Feb. 3 called for the immediate removal of Greg Bovino, a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commander.
The Democrat cited a federal court ruling that accused Bovino of “outright lying” about the use of force during immigration enforcement in the Chicago area during a bicameral shadow hearing titled "Our Values at Stake: Examining DHS' Use of Violence in Immigration Enforcement."
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Referring to the court ruling, Krishnamoorthi said a judge found that a senior CBP commander had misrepresented the use of force against peaceful protesters in Chicago. Identifying the commander as Bovino, he said, “He lied. He lied again.”
The lawmaker cited multiple incidents during enforcement actions, including Operation Midway Blitz, alleging excessive force such as the pepper-spraying of a one-year-old child, the use of a taser on a U.S. citizen, the deployment of tear gas in residential neighborhoods, and shootings, including the death of Chicago resident Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez.
He said official statements framing the actions as necessary for public safety were contradicted by body-camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and judicial findings. In the case involving Villegas-Gonzalez, Krishnamoorthi said claims by the Department of Homeland Security that agents were attacked were unsupported. “There was no evidence,” he said, adding, “This is part of a pattern.”
Reiterating earlier demands for accountability, Krishnamoorthi said, “I have already called for Secretary Noem to be fired or impeached.” He added, “Today, I am calling for Greg Bovino to be fired.”
He said officials who authorize, carry out, or attempt to conceal abuses must face investigation and consequences, warning that such actions endanger lives, erode public trust, and weaken the rule of law.
The hearing focused on what lawmakers described as entrenched impunity within immigration enforcement during the Trump administration, with Krishnamoorthi calling for the restoration of accountability to prevent future abuses.
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