Last week, reports began to emerge that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was preparing to initiate immigration operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, following successful efforts in Chicago to address criminal illegal immigration. This development sparked a flurry of discussions among state and local Democrats in North Carolina.

City council members and the sheriff of Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is situated, were among those voicing concerns. However, it was the comments from a congresswoman and the state’s governor that particularly caught the eye of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. Notably, they seemed to conflate the terms “immigrant” and “illegal alien,” prompting Bovino to offer a clarification on his X account.

Part of the pushback came from city council members, as well as the sheriff of Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located. It was the fear-mongering from one congresswoman and the state’s governor, though, that drew the attention of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, when they failed to acknowledge the difference between the words “immigrant” and “illegal alien.” He helped them out with a primer on his X account

“Immigrants rest assured, we have your back like we did in Chicago and Los Angeles,” he wrote. “Rep. Adams, perhaps you & Gov. STEIN should learn the difference between an illegal alien & an immigrant. Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities and should self deport via CBP Home.”