Pearland Police Chief Johnny Spires defended the large law enforcement presence. Drake said the ACLU was deeply troubled that BORTAC agents were part of the law enforcement response. BORTAC agents have been criticized for how they have detained and arrested protesters in Portland, Oregon. A representative of Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on the work of BORTAC agents in Pearland. CBP said its special operations teams are routinely deployed to help law enforcement nationwide.