U.S. Border Patrol Accuses KTLA of Omitted Context in North Hills Church Arrest Story
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have issued a strong rebuke of KTLA, accusing the news outlet of “dishonest reporting” regarding a recent immigration enforcement incident at the United Methodist Church in North Hills, California. The agency claims that the news station omitted an official statement provided prior to broadcast, which clarified the nature of the arrest that took place on church grounds.
The dispute stems from coverage of an arrest involving Carlos Chavez-Guzman, who was taken into custody in the church’s parking lot. KTLA and local church leaders characterized the event as agents conducting a raid during a community food distribution, a portrayal that sparked significant outrage among parishioners and local officials who viewed the location as a “sacred space” and a sanctuary.
However, federal officials maintain that the church was never the target of the operation. According to the omitted statement referenced by Border Patrol, agents were conducting a targeted enforcement action nearby at the intersection of Rayen Street and Sepulveda Boulevard. Authorities state that the suspect fled from law enforcement, leading agents on a foot chase that ultimately ended in the church parking lot.
Border Patrol officials argue that by excluding this context, the reporting falsely implied a planned operation against a religious institution. The agency has publicly requested that KTLA update their story to reflect that the entry onto the property was the result of a pursuit rather than a targeted raid on the church or its charitable activities.
cbsnews.com
cbsnews.com
