Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol commander who led controversial immigration raids under the Trump administration, announced his retirement at the end of March after nearly three decades with the agency.
Key Takeaways
Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol commander who led controversial immigration raids under Trump, announced his retirement after nearly three decades with the agency. His tenure was marked by criticism and fatal shootings during enforcement operations.
- Gregory Bovino to retire at end of March after 28 years with Border Patrol
- Led mass deportation campaigns in Democratic-led cities, drawing heavy criticism
- Removed from role following fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis
- California Governor Gavin Newsom blasted Bovino as 'smallest man alive' upon retirement announcement
Bovino became a prominent figure in the administration's mass deportation campaign before being reassigned from his leadership role following fatal shootings during enforcement operations in Minneapolis. According to multiple sources including Fox News and The Guardian, Bovino confirmed his retirement plans in an exclusive interview with Breitbart Texas, stating that working alongside Border Patrol agents was the greatest honor of his life.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told HuffPost that Bovino has not submitted any retirement paperwork. However, Bovino's comments to Breitbart Texas and reports from CBS News citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter confirm his intention to retire.
Bovino was removed from his role as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commander-at-large in January after the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during immigration enforcement operations. According to The Guardian, Bovino's comments following Pretti's death may have contributed to his transfer out of Minneapolis.
Bovino led operations in several Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. His conduct during these operations drew criticism from local residents and leaders who denounced the tactics as heavy-handed and indiscriminate. The Trump administration removed Bovino from his commander-at-large role after the shootings, replacing him with border czar Tom Homan.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) criticized Bovino upon his retirement announcement, calling him 'the smallest man who ever lived' on X and stating that he ruined lives, spread fear, and spewed hatred. The governor's press office also shared an illustration of the Statue of Liberty telling a crying Bovino, 'You're fired.'
Bovino's retirement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration policies. A recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos indicates that while a majority of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants, most disapprove of how President Trump has handled the issue. Earlier this month, Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted from the Department of Homeland Security.
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