Greg Bovino is leaving Minneapolis. What does this mean?
Greg Bovino is leaving Minneapolis. USA TODAY’s Trevor Hughes explains what this means for the Trump administration’s immigration strategy.
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff for national immigration enforcement operations, is under fire again for allegedly making offensive comments about Jewish officials in Minnesota, The New York Times and CBS News reported.
Anonymous sources told the media that Bovino made the remarks during a Jan. 12 call with other federal officials to discuss recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Bovino reportedly made the remarks after learning that Minnesota State Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, was unable to attend the conference call because he observes the Sabbath. Tradition calls for resting from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Mr. Bovino was reportedly unhappy with Mr. Rosen’s absence, asking if “orthodox criminals” had Saturdays off and allegedly using the term “chosen people” in a derogatory manner.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Bovino’s alleged comments come as federal officials are under increasing pressure and criticism from many Americans and members of Congress, most recently in deadly immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis.
Five days before the call, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, a mother of three. More than two weeks later, federal agents shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Preti. An internal investigation found that two Border Patrol agents fired their weapons during the incident.
The Trump administration’s immigration policies in Minneapolis have drawn criticism, which has steadily intensified amid rising tensions and clashes between federal authorities and protesters.
Demonstrations have spread across the United States, with large protests recently taking place on Saturday, January 31st. Federal officials say the thousands of immigration agents sent to Minnesota are a key part of the Trump administration’s deportation crackdown.
Multiple publications reported last week that Bovino was planning to leave Minneapolis following the shooting deaths of Good and Preti. The White House announced that Tom Homan, the border czar, will be sent to the state as the Trump administration’s new immigration official.
But Bovino’s permanent future remains uncertain. Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol’s “general commander” and will return to his former position as chief patrol officer along California’s El Centro area on the U.S.-Mexico border, Reuters reported.
Still, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin denied reports that Bovino had been removed from duty, saying in an earlier statement to USA TODAY that “Secretary Gregory Bovino has not been relieved of duty.”
As of the afternoon of February 1, Bovino’s X account described him as a “large scale CA commander” and listed his location as Los Angeles. The bio on Bovino’s Instagram account reads, “USBP Lead Patrol Agent – Commander of Major Operations in California.” Demonstrators and federal officers clashed in Los Angeles on Friday, January 30, amid other protests across the country.
Anti-discrimination groups and lawmakers condemn Bovino’s comments
In a post on X, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called Bovino’s comments “disgraceful” and an “anti-Semitic mockery” of Rosen and his faith.
“The fact that Mr. Bovino felt comfortable expressing these views in telephone conversations with multiple prosecutors speaks volumes,” Greenblatt wrote. “Orthodox Jews are the most vulnerable in our community and need support, not vilification, from DHS.”
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) also responded to Bovino’s alleged comments, criticizing the X post as anti-Semitic.
“Gregory Bovino has already proven himself unfit to hold any position of power, and his anti-Semitic comments are further evidence that he should be removed immediately,” she wrote.
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes Jr., James Powell, Trevor Hughes, Michael Loria and Terry Collins contributed to this report.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or X @katecperez_.
