Former Border Patrol Chief Claims Trump's Immigration Crackdown Was Insufficient
In a candid exit interview with the New York Times, Gregory Bovino, the former commander-at-large of the US Border Patrol, has asserted that the immigration enforcement measures implemented during Donald Trump's presidency did not go far enough. As his retirement approaches at the end of March, Bovino expressed no regret over federal agents' fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis in January, stating, "I wish I'd caught even more illegal aliens."
Controversial Career and Tactics Under Scrutiny
Bovino, who spent most of his 30-year career in California's El Centro sector, was appointed by the Trump administration to lead Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. He became a polarizing figure, personally involved in aggressive tactics such as lobbing pepper gas canisters into crowds during sweeps in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and New Orleans. His approach drew sharp criticism, with California Governor Gavin Newsom comparing his dark green coat to "SS garb" from the Nazi era.
In the interview, Bovino defended his methods, referring to himself in the third person as "Chief Bovino" and lamenting bureaucratic limitations on his "turn and burn" high-speed operations. He emphasized a goal of "total border domination," a phrase he acknowledged might unsettle some. "I'm not going to 'control' it. We're going to dominate the hell out of that damn place," he told the Times.
Fatal Shootings and Legal Backlash
Bovino's tenure was marred by the killings of 37-year-old US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in separate incidents in January, which remain under investigation. Following these events, Trump demoted Bovino, and he was ordered to stand down. Despite video evidence showing Pretti was unarmed when shot, Bovino stood by claims that Pretti intended to "massacre law enforcement." He also confirmed dismissing warnings that his tactics could lead to fatalities, replying, "It's possible, yes."
Legal documents cited by the Times reveal Bovino referred to undocumented immigrants as "scum," "trash," and "filth." He faces multiple lawsuits from civil rights groups and an internal investigation for allegedly disparaging a Jewish prosecutor, accusations he denies as unfounded.
Political Allegiances and Retirement Plans
Bovino praised Trump in the interview, noting he received "a lot of kudos from the Trumpster" via top aide Corey Lewandowski. He revealed an ambitious, albeit curtailed, plan to deport 100 million people, far exceeding estimates of undocumented immigrants in the US. His retirement, which he admitted was not entirely voluntary, will focus on environmental conservation, targeting "non-native invasive species" like coyotes threatening timber rattlesnakes in North Carolina, distinct from human smugglers nicknamed coyotes.
Throughout the interview, Bovino used politically incorrect terms, such as calling Barack Obama by his middle name, Hussein, and describing migrants during the Covid-19 pandemic as "walking zombies." He also described social media outreach in raid cities as part of his "consensual encounters" strategy, despite frequent reprimands. "I got yelled at a whole lot and got in trouble a whole lot, and didn't care," he said.
As Bovino exits, his legacy remains contentious, emblematic of the fierce debates over immigration enforcement in the US.
