MINNEAPOLIS — Journalists erupted when Chief Border Patrol Agent Greg Bovino told the public not to flood the 911 system with calls about immigration officers in Minnesota at a Tuesday press conference.
A CNN reporter began shouting and interrupting Bovino on video while he answered a question from the Daily Caller News Foundation about Brooklyn Park residents calling 911 on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reporter asked Bovino to “address the fear in the community” caused by ICE as Bovino warned against flooding emergency numbers with such calls. Reporters then barraged him with questions scrutinizing ICE’s ongoing presence in the Minneapolis area after he ended the conference.
“I’ll tell you, when you have a mayor and a police chief [in Minneapolis] that say call 911 when ICE or Border Patrol is in the neighborhood, and then they wonder why the 911 system is overwhelmed with superfluous calls—” Bovino said.
“Well, I think that’s because people — sir, with all due respect … but sir, with all due respect,” the CNN reporter interjected as Bovino tried speaking over him. “I think — Can you address the fear in the community?” He then repeated the question two more times.
Bovino continued, “What I see out there is a very professional, prudent and thoughtful law enforcement action, and if somebody needs to use the 911 system, then do it, but let’s don’t encourage anarchists to …”
“But do you understand, sir, do you understand why people … do you understand?” the reporter yelled.
After Bovino concluded his remarks, the CNN journalist and others began raising their hands and asking “how long” ICE would remain in the area. A voice in the background said, “Thank you, press,” signaling for them to leave.
Jorge Ventura contributed reporting.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
