U.S. Border Patrol agents accused of using anti‑Latino slurs in Los Angeles
Body‑camera footage and text messages obtained in federal court filings show Border Patrol agents in Los Angeles using the slurs “tonk” and “wet” to disparage Latino individuals during patrols and arrests. An agent was recorded saying, “There was a guy, I’m pretty sure he’s wet,” and messages referenced “tonks everywhere selling food.” The incidents occurred under the command of former Border Patrol leader Greg Bovino, who retired after a Minneapolis operation that resulted in the fatal ICE shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in the case Vasquez Perdomo vs. Noem, alleging that the stops violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments by targeting people who appear Latino and low‑income. The filing includes the video evidence and deposition excerpts. The Department of Homeland Security responded that agents are focused on protecting the American people. U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong scheduled a status conference for September 24 to consider the motion.
Entities: American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California · Department of Homeland Security · Greg Bovino · Los Angeles · U.S. Border Patrol · U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The slurs were captured in body‑camera footage and text messages referenced in court filings. (Court filings)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Border Patrol agents in Los Angeles used the slurs “tonk” and “wet” during patrol and arrest work. (Body‑camera footage and text messages in court filings)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Homeland Security stated agents are focused on protecting the American people. (DHS statement in response to lawsuit)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Court filings seek to bar agents from making stops based on racial profiling. (Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The incidents occurred under the command of former Border Patrol leader Greg Bovino. (Court documents and news reports)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An ACLU of Southern California lawsuit alleges agents conduct warrantless stops targeting Latino, low‑income or working‑class people. (ACLU filing)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong set a September 24 status conference for the case. (Court docket)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Plaintiffs argue the stops violate the Fourth Amendment and the Fifth Amendment. (Plaintiffs' motion)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong scheduled a status conference for September 24 to discuss the ACLU’s motion. (Court docket information)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Greg Bovino retired after a Minneapolis operation that resulted in the fatal ICE shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. (Court filings and news summaries)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Agents exchanged text messages referring to “tonks everywhere selling food.” (Text messages in court filings)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The ACLU of Southern California filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in Vasquez Perdomo vs. Noem seeking to block warrantless stops targeting Latino, low‑income individuals. (Federal court filing)