Border Patrol Presence at Newsom Rally Sparks Tension

U.S. Border Patrol agents maintained a heavy presence outside California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s anti-Trump “Liberation Day” rally in Los Angeles on Thursday, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and resulting in at least one arrest. The unexpected deployment of federal agents at the political event raised questions about the timing and intent of the operation.

Newsom, a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump and a likely 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, used the rally to unveil plans to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting efforts. In a post on social media before the event, Newsom declared that Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott were “going to have a very bad day.”

Footage from Fox 11 captured masked, armed Border Patrol agents detaining a man in handcuffs just outside the venue. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino defended the operation, saying, “We’re here making Los Angeles a safer place” and insisted that the agency would not back down. “We’re not going anywhere,” Bovino said.

Newsom’s office responded with an all-caps statement slamming Trump as a “criminal president” and vowing not to be intimidated. His team also accused the agents of trespassing on private property, although no action was taken to remove them. Newsom acknowledged their presence in his speech, calling it a calculated show of force and a reflection of “Trump’s America.”

Meanwhile, Newsom’s efforts to shift redistricting power in California back to the legislature took a hit. A new POLITICO poll found 64% of voters want to keep the state’s independent redistricting commission, with bipartisan support.