❓WHAT HAPPENED: A suspected Latin Kings gang member was charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Juan Espinoza Martinez, a Mexican national, and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Martinez was arrested on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez—who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement—do NOT belong in this country.” – Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
🎯IMPACT: Martinez faces federal charges for soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official, highlighting ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement.
A Latin Kings gang member, Juan Espinoza Martinez, has been charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Martinez, a Mexican national, was arrested on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois, after a confidential source informed law enforcement that a “hit” had been placed on Bovino, who is overseeing the “Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, Illinois, where the violent criminal gang is based.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that Martinez used Snapchat to offer a $2,000 bounty for information and a $10,000 reward “if you take him down.” A separate message reportedly referenced the Latin Kings gang. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned Martinez’s actions, stating, “Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez—who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement—do NOT belong in this country.”
Martinez has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “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.”
Chicago has become a focal point for immigration enforcement efforts, with protests erupting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and federal deportation policies. Bovino, who leads operations in Chicago, has been a visible figure in implementing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have faced violent attacks perpetrated by far-left rioters and backed by state and local politicians like Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and Mayor Brandon Johnson (D).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino described the arrest as a testament to law enforcement’s commitment to protecting those who uphold justice. “Targeting a senior federal officer is a cowardly and direct assault on the rule of law,” Scarpino said.
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