Dozens of masked and armed Border Patrol agents turned up at the press conference, held at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. Regional Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino declared that his crew was making 'Los Angeles a safer place, since we don't have politicians who can do that. We do that ourselves.' Some of his men brandished rifles.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation expressed serious concern about ICE agents harassing journalists, indicating that their conduct raises significant First Amendment and press freedom issues.
Rushanara Ali stated that MPs are experiencing industrial levels of intimidation and harassment, with a disturbing increase in hostility impacting political participation among young individuals.
Beginning in March 2024, a woman identified in court documents as Victim 1 and her family member, Victim 2, began receiving threatening phone calls and text messages demanding $150,000 and warning they were not safe.