Chicago Gang Offered $10K to ‘Take Down’ US Border Patrol Chief—DHS
Chicago Gang Offered $10K to ‘Take Down’ US Border Patrol Chief—DHS
A suspected Latin Kings gang member has been charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, according to the Department of Justice.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Juan Espinoza Martinez, a Mexican national, entered the United States at an unknown date.
Why It Matters
DHS officials say immigration agents have observed a rise in assaults since January, when the Trump administration began implementing its immigration policies. The department attributes some of the attacks to protests against ICE operations and has blamed Democrats and progressive activists.
The surge in incidents comes as the administration ramps up efforts to remove millions of migrants living in the country without legal authorization.
What To Know
A confidential source informed law enforcement on October 3 that a “hit” had been placed on Chief Bovino, DHS said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Martinez as the person responsible and arrested him on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois, according to DHS.
HSI officials said the evidence included a Snapchat screenshot in which a user named “Juan” appeared to offer a $2,000 bounty for information and a $10,000 reward “if you take him down,” with a separate message reportedly referencing the Latin Kings.
“Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez—who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement—do NOT belong in this country. We will not allow criminal gangs to put hits on U.S. government officials and our law enforcement officers,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
Martinez has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. The DOJ is prosecuting the case.
Bovino, the Border Patrol agent who led the immigration enforcement efforts that sparked widespread protests in Los Angeles, is leading operations in Chicago. He serves as commander-at-large of the U.S. Border Patrol and has maintained a visible presence as he looks to implement the Trump administration’s deportation plans.
Chicago has become a key battleground state over immigration policy, with protests erupting against ICE raids and federal deportation efforts. Activists, community groups, and some local politicians have clashed with authorities, highlighting tensions over migrants’ rights and federal policy. The city remains at the forefront of the national conversation surrounding immigration enforcement.
What People Are Saying
“Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This case is exactly what we mean when we say Take Back America—taking back every neighborhood and street corner from violent thugs and criminal gangs and returning them to the law-abiding members of our communities. The Department of Justice will never allow violent gangs or criminal networks to target those who protect our borders and our communities. We will use every authority, every resource, and every partnership at our disposal to bring anyone who threatens or harms our officers to justice—swiftly and decisively.”
“Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is a line that can never be crossed,” Andrew S. Boutros, United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in a press release. “The defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will hold defendants accountable for their grave criminal actions and ensure that no federal officer has to fear for their life for doing their job.”
“The arrest of this ruthless and violent member of the Latin Kings, a criminal organization notorious for its cruelty and disregard for the law, highlights the steadfast commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect those who uphold justice,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino. “Targeting a senior federal officer is a cowardly and direct assault on the rule of law, and HSI will persist in breaking apart violent gangs like the Latin Kings that threaten our communities and those sworn to protect them.”