Podcast Summary: Post Reports – The rise of Border Patrol in US cities

Podcast: Post Reports (The Washington Post)
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Elahe Izadi
Guest: Marianne Levine (Immigration reporter, The Washington Post)

Overview

This episode explores how Border Patrol—an agency traditionally tasked with monitoring U.S. borders—has become increasingly involved in aggressive immigration enforcement operations inside major American cities, highlighting the Trump administration’s drive to fulfill campaign promises of large-scale deportations. Focusing on Chicago as a case study, the episode unpacks the scale, tactics, key individuals, and public backlash tied to these operations, spotlighting the role of Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Expansion of Border Patrol’s Role in Cities

• The Trump administration has deployed Border Patrol agents to urban centers like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Charlotte, and New Orleans (00:27).
• The policy shift is characterized as an aggressive effort to increase deportations, particularly from "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
• Quote: “We’re seeing a really aggressive approach to immigration enforcement in these blue cities.” — Marianne Levine (00:47)

2. Why Focus on Sanctuary Cities?

• Sanctuary cities are locally governed areas where cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is intentionally limited (03:53).
• The administration targets these cities both to boost deportation numbers and as a political message, often labeling them as places that "harbor criminals" (03:53).
• Quote: “There’s definitely a very clear political message here, too, in wanting to label these cities as Democratic cities that are harboring individuals committing crimes.” — Marianne Levine (03:53)

3. Case Study: Chicago

• Chicago exemplifies the sweeping operations of DHS and Border Patrol inside the U.S. (04:50).
• Notable incidents include:
  • An immigration arrest ending in gunfire (05:00).
  • Detainment of a preschool teacher as children were dropped off (05:08).
  • Use of pepper balls on protesters and bystanders, including a Chicago pastor (05:15).
• Chicago became a spotlight due to the visible and sometimes violent nature of enforcement.

4. Border Patrol’s Unusual Urban Presence

• Previously, Border Patrol rarely engaged in interior (non-border) enforcement; this used to be ICE’s role (05:56).
• Concerns exist about Border Patrol agents' lack of experience with the nuances of established, mixed-legal-status city populations.
• Quote: “There’s some concern among former DHS officials about Border Patrol’s familiarity with aspects of interior enforcement…that nuance might get lost.” — Marianne Levine (06:46)

5. DHS’s Claims vs. On-the-Ground Realities

• DHS claims operations target “violent criminals,” boasting thousands of arrests—about 4,000 in Chicago alone (07:12).
• Reporters discovered many arrested individuals do not have serious criminal records.
• Notable Case – Juan Manuel Armenta Rodriguez (07:42–11:14)
  • Lived in U.S. since age 17, picked up at a bus stop, confused for a different individual, signed a “voluntary departure” form, rapidly deported.
  • DHS labeled him in a press release as a “criminal illegal alien,” though charges against him had been dropped or reduced.
  • Quote: "A big part of this administration’s message is that they are arresting criminals. But when you have dropped charges, that means there’s no proof of criminality." — Marianne Levine (10:21)
• Despite the government’s narrative, only a small fraction of those arrested were classified as high public safety risks (12:07).

6. Militarized, High-Profile Raids

• Example: A South Shore apartment raid in Chicago with helicopters, drones, and media invited (13:33).
• Agents claimed to target members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua but only two alleged members were identified; 35 others were arrested for civil (not criminal) immigration violations (15:17).
• Quote: “This operation showed the extent to which the administration has also taken a pretty performative approach to these immigration arrests.” — Marianne Levine (13:33)

7. Gregory Bovino: The Face of the Operations

• Bovino, long-time Border Patrol agent, rose to prominence after organizing a high-profile sweep in California just before the second Trump term (19:21).
• Seen as emblematic of the administration’s aggressive approach.
• Quote: “When I asked him, you know, how many of these individuals have criminal records in Chicago who you’ve arrested, his response was, ‘They’re all criminals.’” — Marianne Levine (21:08)
• This blanket “everyone’s a criminal” view is central to the strategy.

8. Tensions & Backlash

• Internal: Old-guard ICE officials are uneasy about Border Patrol’s aggressive tactics and the risks to agency reputation (22:32).
• Public: Significant community and legal pushback, especially after use of tear gas and force on protesters, journalists, and clergy (24:05).
• Court Case: Bovino admitted under oath to participating in use of force on protesters, but shifted his account of events. A judge found Bovino lied about being hit by a rock (26:26–27:02).
  • Quote: "In response to that, the judge basically said that Bovino was outright lying when he said that he was hit in the head with a rock during the protest." — Marianne Levine (26:26)

9. What’s Next?

• Bovino moved from Chicago to Charlotte, North Carolina—pattern of focusing intensively on one city, then moving operations (27:44).
• High-profile raids may become less public but are expected to continue, with fear and uncertainty remaining pervasive in targeted communities (28:34).

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "We're seeing a really aggressive approach to immigration enforcement in these blue cities." — Marianne Levine (00:47)
• "A sanctuary city is basically a city where the cooperation from local authorities is limited with federal immigration enforcement." — Marianne Levine (03:53)
• "Juan Manuel Armenta was never actually convicted of the crimes on the press release...there’s no proof of criminality...no due process or a way for them to challenge the allegations." — Marianne Levine (10:21)
• "When I asked him, you know, how many of these individuals have criminal records in Chicago who you’ve arrested, his response was, ‘They’re all criminals.’" — Marianne Levine (21:08)
• "But then he appeared to change that story when he suggested that the rock was actually thrown at him after he threw the tear gas canister...the judge basically said that Bovino was outright lying..." — Marianne Levine (26:26)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Border Patrol’s New Role and Motivation — 00:17–04:28
• Chicago: High-Profile Operations — 04:50–07:12
• Case Study: Juan Manuel Armenta Rodriguez — 07:42–11:14
• Statistical Context / Limited Serious Criminals Arrested — 12:07–13:03
• Militarized Raid Example: South Shore Apartments — 13:33–16:19
• Gregory Bovino: Background and Agency Tensions — 19:00–23:45
• Community Pushback & Bovino’s Court Testimony — 24:05–27:10
• Outlook: Continued Operations in New Cities — 27:33–29:15

Takeaways

• The Trump administration has shifted immigration enforcement toward militarized, high-profile, and politically resonant actions in Democratic strongholds.
• Border Patrol’s expanded presence in cities sets a new precedent, blurring lines between border and interior enforcement and raising serious due process issues.
• Operations are often more performative and political than targeted law enforcement, sweeping up many with little or no criminal background.
• Internal agency tensions, legal challenges, and public protests are rising alongside administration efforts to cast these raids as making cities safer—or scoring political points.

This summary captures the key themes, insights, and memorable exchanges from the episode, providing a comprehensive guide for those who have not listened to the podcast.