House Investigates Alleged CBP Retaliation Against Border Patrol Sector Chief

The whistleblower alleges Bovino may have produced written testimony in preparation for the hearing that was dissatisfactory to CBP, the letter to Miller states. The testimony prompted a verbal reprimand by agency headquarters officials.

Chairman Comer subsequently invited Bovino and other chief patrol agents to provide transcribed testimony after the denial by CBP. Bovino appeared before the House Oversight Committee and House Homeland Security Committee on July 12 and provided committee members with transcribed testimony about conditions within the sector he oversees that resulted in the alleged retaliation by CBP officials.

In the letter, Chairmen Comer and Green state, “According to a whistleblower familiar with CBP law enforcement and personnel practices, within hours of that transcribed interview having concluded, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official informed Chief Bovino that he was relieved of command of the El Centro Sector effective immediately and would thereafter report to CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a temporary duty assignment of indefinite nature and time. The whistleblower describes that temporary assignment as one of no certain mission, no articulable purpose, and without any timeline of completion. The whistleblower further alleges that this practice is consistent with the way in which CBP officials have dealt with employees who they wish to leave the agency, by placing maximum pressure on them to relocate, retire, or resign.”

Comer and Green are requesting CBP, DHS, and the White House provide all documents and communications related to any employment action taken by the agency with respect to Chief Patrol Agent Bovino, in addition to any previously prepared documents concerning previous invitations to speak before the committees.