President Donald Trump has fired Michele Beckwith, the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento, after she reminded Border Patrol agents that they must comply with federal court orders during immigration raids. The dismissal, reported by the New York Times, raises concerns about political interference in federal law enforcement.
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Beckwith’s Warning to Border Patrol
On 14 July, Gregory Bovino, head of the Border Patrol’s El Centro unit, contacted Beckwith regarding a planned immigration raid in Sacramento. Beckwith reminded him that agents could not indiscriminately detain people in her district due to an April federal court order requiring reasonable suspicion.
The next morning, she reiterated her stance in an email, writing that she expected “compliance with court orders and the constitution.” Hours later, she was terminated by presidential order.
Immigration Raids Move Forward
Two days after Beckwith’s firing, Bovino carried out an immigration raid at a Sacramento Home Depot. In a video from the California state capitol, Bovino declared: “Folks, there is no such thing as a sanctuary city.”
Bovino later accused Beckwith of showing “bias against law enforcement,” insisting that Border Patrol operates within the Constitution.
Supreme Court Ruling Shifts Legal Ground
Beckwith’s firing came shortly after a controversial Supreme Court ruling on 8 September that allowed federal immigration agents to stop people based on race, language, or occupation. This decision overturned a lower court ruling in Los Angeles that had restricted such raids.
Broader Pattern of Federal Firings
Beckwith’s dismissal is part of a larger trend of firings within the Department of Justice under Trump. Just last week, U.S. attorney Erik Siebert resigned under pressure and was quickly replaced by Lindsey Halligan, one of Trump’s close aides. Siebert had been overseeing investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Beckwith Responds
Beckwith has appealed her termination and defended her actions as rooted in constitutional duty. “I’m an American who cares about her country,” she told the New York Times. “We have to stand up and insist the laws be followed.”
Conclusion
The firing of Michele Beckwith highlights escalating tensions between Trump’s administration and federal prosecutors who resist politically driven directives. Her case underscores a broader conflict over immigration enforcement, the rule of law, and the limits of presidential authority. With court rulings expanding federal power in immigration raids, critics warn that prosecutorial independence is at risk.