Agents of Chaos: Unpacking the Actions of Border Patrol Agents Across the US (Bellingcat)

[Nevilledog]

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/17/border-patrol-agents-of-chaos/


In early January 2025, a gardener named Ernesto Campos was pulled over by Border Patrol agents in the city of Bakersfield, California.

The agents were a long way from home: Bakersfield is over 240 miles (386km) from the US border with Mexico.

They were there as part of Operation Return to Sender, a Border Patrol surge in the city that acted as a portent of what was to come across the US in 2025.

Video footage shows one agent threatening to break Campos’ car window as they believed he was transporting an undocumented individual.

Campos filmed the agents, who he said slashed his tyres before arresting him and a passenger. The agents’ faces later appeared on local news reports detailing the incident.

Ten months later, two of the agents visible in footage recorded by Campos were filmed in Chicago as Border Patrol agents descended on the city for what was dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz”.

One was seen grabbing a man by the throat before slamming him to the ground with help from other agents.

*snip*