Ramirez Moves to Subpoena Bovino for Unlawful Military Tactics, Lies in Chicago

Washington, DC—Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) motioned to subpoena Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to answer questions before the House Committee on Homeland Security. Ramirez’s motion follows Bovino’s lawless campaign of terror in Chicago. Bovino and CBP agents used riot control weapons at least 49 times across 18 incidents since October 1, violated court injunctions and agency rules, and lied to the court about incidents where civilians' lives were endangered.

During the Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ramirez also, again, submitted for the record her demand that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem resign. Ramirez first demanded her resignation in April 2025. 

After Republicans delayed the vote for 40 minutes, they tabled the motion, demonstrating their complicity with the unlawful and unaccountable actions of Trump’s DHS. 

“If Noem and Bovino have nothing to hide and are acting within the confines of the law, they should be able to come to the Committee and testify,” added Congresswoman Ramirez. 

For the full video of the Congresswoman’s remarks and motion to subpoena, CLICK HERE.

Full remarks as prepared for delivery:

• Today’s hearing should be titled, “When Badges Become Shields: How DHS agents’ violations of our rights fuel distrust and danger.”
• To suggest that DHS’s agents are professional law enforcement officers - bound by the same oversight and accountability - is ridiculous.
• Law enforcement officers go through vetting before training.
• New ICE recruits are irresponsibly being accelerated from vetting to training, and only dismissed if DHS finds out about and retroactively acts on information about failed drug tests, criminal backgrounds, or other requirements.
• Law enforcement officers are required to wear badges, show their faces, and identify themselves.
• DHS’s agents use anonymity to terrorize our communities and violate our rights.
• There are mechanisms for law enforcement officers to be held accountable by the public, investigated, and disciplined.
• DHS’s agents reject accountability, disregard court orders, and violate consent decrees.
• Bottom line: DHS agents LIE, act with IMPUNITY, reject CHECKS and BALANCES, and IGNORE Congress and the Courts.
• The American People’s anger and intolerance of DHS’s violations of our rights are the result of DHS’s unlawful, unaccountable, unconstitutional actions, which put the American people and our liberties at great risk.
• DHS is the single greatest threat to public safety today.
• DHS agents used chemical weapons on protesters and bystanders at least 49 times across 18 incidents in Chicago and the suburbs since Oct. 1.
• Since U.S. District Court Judge Ellis issued an order forbidding federal agents from using riot control weapons on November 6th, federal agents used chemical weapons at least four times, including two cases where agents appeared to fire pepper spray into a moving car, possibly violating both the injunction and Border Patrol rules restricting chemical weapon use on motorists.
• Greg Bovino and DHS claimed that he had been hit by a rock in the head before throwing tear gas, but video evidence disproves it. And he ultimately admitted he was not hit until after he threw the tear gas.
• The government alleged that Marimar Martinez used her car to assault and impede federal law enforcement. But then federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss their own case. Why? Because while she didn’t assault the agents, they DID shoot her 5 times and then bragged about it.
• And you know why rank-and-file agents think they are above the law?
• Because the leadership thinks DHS is above the law.
• DHS leadership LIES, acts with IMPUNITY, rejects CHECKS and BALANCES, and IGNORES Congress and the Courts.
• People ask us why DHS is allowed to behave this way. The truth is that DHS was intentionally established with an overbroad mission and unchecked power. And Republicans expanded that unaccountable power with a blank check and unlimited personnel.
• Terrorizing us is the point. Violating our rights is the point. Fear is the point.
• But nothing DHS is doing is making us safer. And Americans are done - we see through the lie.
• Enough is enough. DHS must be held accountable.
• That is why I move to subpoena Gregory Bovino to come before this Committee to answer for his actions.
• Mr. Chair, pursuant to clause 2(k)(6) of rule 11, I move that the Committee subpoena Gregory Bovino.
• That is also why I, again, request Kristi Noem’s resignation.
• I yield back.