Newsom Investigates Border Patrol Presence at Press Conference
Governor Gavin Newsom has requested clarification from the Trump administration regarding the presence of Border Patrol agents at a press conference featuring prominent California Democrats last week.
He filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for “all documents and records” linked to the Border Patrol operation on August 14 in downtown Los Angeles. This event was where Newsom unveiled a campaign aimed at gaining voter approval to redraw California’s congressional map, an effort intended to tilt the balance in favor of Democrats for the 2026 midterm elections.
In a statement, Newsom remarked, “Trump’s use of military and federal law enforcement to intimidate political adversaries is a troubling step towards authoritarianism.” He indicated that this approach reflects tactics seen in countries like Russia and North Korea.
During the press conference, Newsom introduced the “Election Rigging Response Method,” which proposes reshaping Congressional boundaries to benefit Texas and other Republican-led states. Meanwhile, a visible number of armed federal agents were stationed nearby, sporting masks and camouflage gear.
Newsom and other leading Democrats, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, characterized the actions of the Border Patrol as intimidation. When asked for clarification, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated the agents were engaged in law enforcement activities, highlighting that two arrests were made during the operation.
One of the arrested individuals was reportedly linked to a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, identified as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to enhance deportation measures. However, McLaughlin did not disclose specific numbers regarding agent deployment or the agencies involved in the operation. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, who has overseen immigration operations aggressively during Trump’s administration, was present and briefly addressed reporters.
McLaughlin did not provide names of those arrested or answer questions about any connection between the apprehended individuals and the Venezuelan gang.
“Under President Trump, if you break the law, you will face consequences,” she mentioned in an email statement.
Witnesses noted that one of the arrested men, identified as Angel, was a delivery worker charged while simply delivering strawberries. A colleague expressed sadness over the situation, stating, “I’m pretty upset because Angel isn’t here; I have work tomorrow.”
In his FOIA request, Newsom’s Attorney General David Sapp described the Border Patrol’s presence as an intimidation tactic against Californians advocating for fair elections. The request seeks not only details related to the operation but also communications involving Governor Newsom and federal officials.
Concerns have been escalating regarding Trump’s increasing militarized approach against political rivals, including the deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marines earlier this year to address protests over immigrant raids in Los Angeles. Just last week, he sent federal law enforcement to D.C. to tackle what he termed rising crime, despite data showing a decrease in violence there.
Newsom has asked for a response by early September, yet the federal response to FOIA requests can be painfully slow. A spokesperson for Newsom did not immediately address whether additional legal actions might be forthcoming.
For Newsom’s congressional redistricting plan to move forward, it must gain voter approval in a special election this November. The proposed map, crafted by Democratic strategists, is intended to focus Republican voters into certain districts while removing others that the GOP has traditionally held.
In total, Democrats could potentially gain five seats in California with the new map, possibly countering Republican efforts in Texas as other states begin to reconsider their boundaries amid the mounting political struggle for control of the House in 2026.
