Recently demoted border patrol official Gregory Bovino has been accused of making mocking and sarcastic remarks about the Jewish faith of Minnesota's US attorney, Daniel Rosen, during a contentious phone call with state prosecutors earlier this month. The incident, which occurred on 12 January, has drawn significant attention amid ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement in the region.
Details of the Controversial Phone Call
According to reports from the New York Times, Bovino specifically mocked Rosen for observing Shabbat, the weekly Jewish day of rest that begins at sunset on Friday and concludes at sunset on Saturday. During the call with multiple prosecutors present, Bovino reportedly used the term "chosen people" in a sarcastic manner, directly referencing Rosen's religious practices in what appears to be a derogatory context.
The phone conversation took place after Bovino had requested a meeting with Rosen to push for a stronger response from the Minnesota US attorney's office regarding the criminalization of individuals whom Bovino believed were impeding federal agents from enforcing the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state. Rosen, who was observing Shabbat during the weekend in question, delegated the call to a deputy, prompting Bovino to complain about the attorney's perceived unavailability due to his religious observance.
Bovino's Role in Immigration Enforcement
Gregory Bovino, 55, has emerged as one of the most visible faces of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts across the United States. His controversial tenure initially focused on Democratic-led cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago before shifting attention to Minneapolis in recent months. Bovino's provocative responses to several high-profile incidents have generated significant public scrutiny and protest.
Most notably, Bovino faced criticism for his handling of the border patrol's fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, on 24 January. Pretti was filming immigration officials in Minneapolis when a confrontation escalated, resulting in border patrol agents shooting him to death. Bovino initially claimed that Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents, a characterization that was later contradicted by witness videos showing Pretti holding a phone rather than a firearm.
Administrative Changes and Ongoing Investigations
On Tuesday, the Trump administration demoted Bovino from his position as the agency's commander at large and transferred him out of Minneapolis entirely. This administrative action followed mounting pressure regarding both the Pretti shooting and the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis just 17 days prior to Pretti's death. Both incidents have sparked substantial protests and calls for accountability.
Trump border chief Tom Homan has been placed in charge of the Minnesota immigration enforcement operation in Bovino's absence. On Thursday, Homan stated that he "recognized that certain improvements could and should be made" regarding the agency's operations in the region, though he declined to elaborate on specific changes or acknowledge the alleged antisemitic remarks made by Bovino.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the justice department (DoJ), and Rosen's office in Minnesota have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the reported incident. The lack of official statements has left many questions unanswered about the potential consequences for Bovino's conduct and the broader implications for religious tolerance within federal law enforcement agencies.
