Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino Escorted From Las Vegas Bar Amid Scrutiny Over Minneapolis Shooting

A senior Border Patrol commander, Gregory "Greg" Bovino, was reportedly asked to leave a Las Vegas bar after staff recognized him, according to reporting by The Daily Beast.

The incident occurred on Jan. 30 at Bottled Blonde in Las Vegas. Bar management told The Daily Beast that employees saw Bovino drinking wine with several unidentified associates and, citing patron safety, asked him to leave and escorted him from the premises.

"Bottled Blonde does not engage in political activity or affiliations. As a private business, Bottled Blonde reserves the right to refuse service to any patron at its discretion," the venue said in a statement to The Daily Beast.

"Upon becoming aware of the individual's presence, the patron was asked to leave the premises and was escorted out by staff in accordance with venue policy to maintain a safe and orderly environment for all patrons."

Background And Controversy

Bovino rose to prominence as a public face of aggressive immigration enforcement during the Trump administration and later served in operations across the country. His reputation has come under scrutiny following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens involving Border Patrol agents, most recently the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Immediately after the Minneapolis shooting, Bovino held a press conference in which he suggested Pretti intended to "massacre" agents. Video footage of the encounter, however, shows agents pepper-spraying and tackling Pretti before an agent removed his firearm and shot him. Pretti, who held a license to carry, was struck multiple times; reporting indicates he was shot 10 times.

Personnel Status And Official Responses

Two days after the Pretti shooting, The Atlantic reported that Bovino had been reassigned to California and was expected to retire soon. A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin, later appeared to dispute that account, saying, "Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties," though she did not explicitly confirm that he remained in his prior post.

With Bovino's official status unclear, Bottled Blonde said it removed him to protect other customers and maintain a safe environment. The episode underscores the heightened public scrutiny surrounding law enforcement officials involved in controversial use-of-force incidents.

Note: This article summarizes reporting by The Daily Beast and The Atlantic and includes references to available video of the Minneapolis encounter. Statements quoted above are from venue management and a DHS spokesperson.