Gregory Bovino to retire from Border Patrol after raids, lawsuits and deaths of 2 citizens: Report

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Senior US Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who became closely associated with the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, is expected to retire from federal service at the end of the month, according to a report by NBC News published on Tuesday, March 17. 

His departure follows a period of heightened scrutiny over immigration raids conducted under his leadership in several major US cities.

Bovino was also removed from a senior enforcement role earlier this year following political backlash tied to a fatal incident in Minneapolis. Sources told media outlets that Bovino was eligible for retirement and was approaching the agency’s mandatory retirement age.

Gregory Bovino's immigration raids in US cities sparked lawsuits and criticism

A longtime Border Patrol official, Bovino had been serving as chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector along the California-Mexico border.

However, he gained national attention when he and teams of green-uniformed Border Patrol agents were dispatched to several metropolitan areas to conduct immigration enforcement operations.

In the months that followed, Bovino and his agents were deployed to Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis as part of broader immigration enforcement initiatives. 

In those cities, some of the tactics used during the operations came under scrutiny. Videos circulated online showing agents stopping individuals and asking about their immigration status, in some cases, allegedly based on factors such as the person’s accent.

The enforcement efforts also drew legal challenges and criticism from some local leaders who described the operations as overly aggressive.

In Chicago, Bovino’s tactics led to a lawsuit after agents reportedly used chemical agents against crowds of protesters during demonstrations.

A federal judge later reprimanded Bovino after chemical agents were used in residential neighborhoods in violation of a court order limiting their use.

The judge also called him back into court after determining that statements he made regarding threats posed by immigrants and protesters were inaccurate.

In one instance, Bovino said he had thrown a gas canister after being struck by a rock, but later withdrew the claim after video footage contradicted his account.

Emails obtained by NBC News also indicated that Bovino had expressed frustration when he was directed to conduct more limited “targeted” arrests in Chicago instead of broader immigration sweeps.

Bovino's retirement follows controversy over 'Operation Metro Surge'

In January, Bovino and other Customs and Border Protection officials were removed from the city, where he had been overseeing a federal operation known as 'Operation Metro Surge'.

The move followed the fatal shootings of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which sparked political backlash and increased scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement activities. 

Officials said Bovino’s retirement will occur at the end of the month. The timing also coincides with the date President Donald Trump previously announced would be the final day in office for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

During his tenure as commander at large, Bovino reported directly to Noem and her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski.

According to officials, Bovino was already eligible for retirement and was roughly one year away from the mandatory retirement age of 57 for Customs and Border Protection personnel.