Protester found not guilty of assault despite top Border Patrol official's testimony

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA
Protester found not guilty of assault despite top Border Patrol official's testimony


Gregory Bovino speaks to reporters Aug. 14 after U.S. Border Patrol agents gathered outside the Japanese American National Museum where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a news conference. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

By Brittny Mejia and James Queally
Sept. 17, 2025 Updated 3:19 PM PT

* Protests across Los Angeles this summer led to charges against multiple people accused of assaulting or impeding federal immigration agents.
* A misdemeanor assault case against Brayan Ramos-Brito was the first to go to trial.

A protester was acquitted Wednesday of charges that he assaulted a federal agent during widespread protests against immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, just hours after one of the faces of President Trump's enforcement policies took the stand to testify against him.

U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino -- the brash agent who led a phalanx of military personnel into MacArthur Park this summer -- was called as a witness Wednesday in a federal misdemeanor assault case against Brayan Ramos-Brito, who was accused of striking a federal agent.

Bovino, who flew in to testify from Chicago, the latest city targeted for an immigration enforcement surge, said he witnessed the alleged assault committed by Ramos-Brito in Paramount on June 7. … Bovino was questioned by the defense about previous comments he made referring to undocumented immigrants as "scum." … The jury came back with the acquittal after a little over an hour of deliberations.

The case could prove to be an ominous bellwether for embattled acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, who has struggled to win indictments against those charged with committing crimes while protesting aggressive immigration enforcement in Southern California.

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Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-17/immigration-protest-case-trial-los-angeles