Bill Stuart, the lone Democrat on the Fishers City Council, is calling on residents to reject the message of Greg Bovino, the former U.S. Border Patrol commander scheduled to keynote a rally in Fishers August 1 organized by the group Save Heritage Indiana.

“I am deeply disturbed to see that Greg Bovino, the architect of President Trump’s most aggressive immigration enforcement measures, will be speaking at an event on August 1st in our hometown of Fishers promoting mass deportations,” Stuart, who represents the Southwest District, said in a written statement.

Bovino served as commander-at-large of the Border Patrol from October 2025 until January of this year, leading high-profile immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities. He was removed from that post in January following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during enforcement operations, and retired from the agency at the end of March.

Stuart called Bovino “an extremist when it comes to immigration,” citing his claim that as many as 100 million people are in the country illegally, and blaming his tactics for the deaths of American citizens “who were expressing their constitutional right to free speech.”

“As a country, we need to have constructive discussions about appropriate levels of immigration and the security of our borders,” Stuart said. “Bovino, however, simply fans the flames of hate and fear. He is someone who further divides us instead of helping to find solutions.”

Noting that a substantial share of Fishers residents were born outside the United States — most here legally and “making positive contributions to our community” — Stuart closed with an appeal: “Please join me in standing united with our friends and neighbors in Fishers and reject Bovino and his message.”

Stuart’s statement stands in contrast to the approach taken by Mayor Scott Fadness, who addressed the rally in a recent podcast interview with LarryInFishers. Fadness said the city had no role in bringing the event to Fishers and acknowledged there are aspects of the organization he “certainly wouldn’t personally agree with,” but declined to condemn the rally or its speakers, citing the First Amendment.

“When I swore an oath to serve this community and uphold the Constitution, I did not swear an oath to ensure that you’re never offended by what others may say,” Fadness said, warning against giving any mayor “the arbitrary ability to censor or shut down a person’s rights.”

The mayor said Fishers police are working to identify the rally site — which organizers plan to disclose only to ticket holders — so officers can protect both attendees and counter-protesters. A counter-protest is being organized by a local group.

The rally is set for 7 p.m. August 1.