Former Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith Speaks Out on Border Patrol Dispute and Firing
Former Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith Speaks Out on Border Patrol Dispute and Firing
Michele Beckwith, who served as the acting U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of California, has revealed she was terminated after insisting that Border Patrol agents adhere to a court order prohibiting indiscriminate arrests in the Central Valley.
Beckwith, a veteran prosecutor, informed the New York Times that her dismissal followed a warning to Gregory Bovino, chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector, that a standing court injunction barred agents from conducting widespread immigration raids in Sacramento without probable cause. Beckwith emphasized the necessity of upholding the law, stating, “we have to stand up and insist the laws be followed.”
The controversy stems from a federal district court ruling earlier this year, which found that the Border Patrol likely violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure during a January operation in Kern County. This ruling led to an injunction sought by the American Civil Liberties Union and United Farm Workers, specifically targeting indiscriminate tactics in California’s Eastern District.
According to Beckwith, she received a call from Bovino on July 14, indicating his intent to deploy agents to Sacramento. She advised him that the injunction prevented indiscriminate stops. The next day, she reinforced this in an email, stressing “compliance with court orders and the Constitution.” Shortly thereafter, her work devices were disabled, and she was notified of her immediate termination, ending a 15-year career with the Department of Justice.
Despite Beckwith’s warning, Bovino and his agents proceeded with a raid in Sacramento on July 17, targeting a Home Depot. Bovino defended the operations on Fox News, claiming they were intelligence-driven and targeted, adding, “There is no sanctuary anywhere. We’re here to stay. We’re not going anywhere.”
Beckwith’s firing is part of a broader pattern of top prosecutors leaving or being dismissed amid the Trump administration’s push for aggressive enforcement of its policies, including instances of prosecutors being fired after pursuing cases against individuals considered political targets.
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