by Maria Danilova,AFP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino (C) stands surrounded by fellow federal agents during a protest against ICE in front of the Bishop Whipple Federal Building on January 15, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
photograph: Octavio Jones/AFP
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, wearing a helmet and tactical gear and hurling tear gas canisters at protesters, has become the public face of US President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign.
Mr. Bovino’s public profile has risen in recent days after he defended violent immigration sweeps in Minneapolis, which culminated on Saturday when federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Preti, the second civilian killed in the heavily Democratic northern city in recent weeks.
The Trump administration quickly accused Preti of attempting to harm immigration officials, throwing her to the ground and firing multiple shots at her, even though footage from the scene showed Preti never drew her weapon.
Mr. Bovino further emphasized that the victim of this confrontation was not Pretti, but his agent.
“Because of their advanced training, they were able to prevent him from firing on law enforcement specifically. We’re very happy that our law enforcement was able to subdue him before that happened,” Bovino told CNN. state of the union on sunday.
He added: “It’s unfortunate that he had to pay the price for injecting himself at that crime scene. I can’t say it enough. He made the decision to go there.”
Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino holds up a piece of paper listing alleged crimes committed by illegal immigrants during a news conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 20, 2026.
photograph: Stephen Mathuren/AFP
Cesar Garcia Hernandez, an immigration law professor at Ohio State University, said Bovino is a good fit as the Trump administration seeks to deport millions of illegal immigrants.
“He’s trying to turn the aggressive rhetoric that we’re seeing from (Homeland Security) Secretary (Kristi Noem) and President Trump and other government officials into reality,” Garcia Hernandez told AFP.
“Turn and burn”
Bovino, who is in his mid-50s, has led several high-profile immigration raids over the past year, including sweeps in Los Angeles and Chicago. In doing so, he used what he called “turn-and-burn” tactics, entering the country quickly to make arrests and quickly leaving before protesters arrived.
On January 7, Bovino was leading an immigration operation in Minneapolis when officers shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in her car, sparking mass demonstrations and nationwide outrage.
Bovino also defended the deputies who took a 5-year-old boy into custody last week while seeking the arrest of his father, saying, “We are experts in working with children.”
Last week, footage emerged of Bovino throwing a canister containing a chemical irritant into a group of protesters in Minneapolis.
“We’re going to give you gas. Go back. The gas is coming,” he said, tossing a cartridge at protesters as green smoke billowed into the air.
Unlike many agents who wear masks during raids, Bovino enjoys the spotlight and controversy.
When not wearing tactical gear, he is often seen wearing a double-breasted long green overcoat with a wide collar that was popular during World War I and World War II, but this, coupled with his military-style buzzcut, has led some critics to make unflattering comparisons.
California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week, “Greg Bovino literally dressed up like he bought an SS outfit on eBay.”
Bovino countered that the coat is standard equipment for the Border Patrol, which he has had for more than 25 years, and accused Democratic officials of stoking unrest with such harsh criticism of the agency.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino (C) leaves the federal courthouse in the Dirksen Federal Building after a hearing on October 28, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Bovino was ordered to appear in federal court for violating a temporary restraining order issued by District Judge Sarah Ellis that restricts immigration enforcement officers from using tear gas or other crowd control equipment unless there is an immediate threat.
photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP
“They’re trying to describe Border Patrol agents and ICE agents as Gestapo and Nazis and a lot of other words,” he said on CNN, adding that Preti may have been influenced by such statements.
“Has this person fallen victim to this kind of heated rhetoric, as so many others have?”
For Garcia Hernandez, Bovino’s actions and demeanor send a clear message.
“The Trump administration’s position is that there is no room for confusion in the United States, and that is a scary proposition,” García Hernandez told AFP.
– AFP