Rumors swirl over Gregory Bovino’s possible exit; DHS denies claims

Early reports published by The Atlantic claimed that Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol official who had been serving as a “commander at large,” was removed from that position and would return to his previous post in El Centro, Calif.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security has since denied those claims.

The story was broken by The Atlantic, which cited a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official and two other people with knowledge of the decision. This news follows months of grievances regarding Bovino's immigration enforcement tactics, in which he has encouraged his masked police forces to racially profile, brutalize peaceful legal observers and intimidate anyone who openly defies the Trump administration.

Despite similar violence against community members, both citizens and non-citizens, being monitored for months, the recent shooting of Alex Jefrey Pretti, a VA nurse from Minneapolis, appears to signal a significant shift in the negative sentiments towards Trump's administration's immigration enforcement approach.

Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, posted on X on Monday evening stating:

“Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As @PresSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”

It was confirmed by Forbes, however, that Bovino’s access to his social media accounts had been suspended following responses to local lawmakers on X regarding Pretti’s death. 

Without confirmation from the department, questions remain about the circumstances of Bovino’s removal from the role and whether the reassignment reflects a routine transition ahead of retirement or a more abrupt shift in leadership. For now, officials are saying little, leaving the account reported by The Atlantic as the only public window into the change.

Although some reports indicate Bovino may be scheduled for an early retirement, others say he may also return to El Centro, where he previously worked and was in charge of “Operation Return to Sender,” which is being challenged in federal court by California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta. Last January, Border Patrol agents arrested 78 people in Bakersfield. Data from CBP showed that 77 of those arrested had no criminal history.