Ousted Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino Publicly Seeks Reinstatement, Urges Harsher Tactics at Newark Detention Center

Gregory Bovino, the former Border Patrol commander who was removed from his post amid controversy earlier this year, has launched a public bid to return to a leadership role while criticizing the Trump administration's handling of recent protests at a New Jersey detention facility.

Bovino made a bizarre public pitch for his old job, tagging Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles. / Gregory Bovino/X

Bovino — once closely identified with the administration's aggressive deportation approach — posted on X from an airport gate as he traveled to Newark, sharing a selfie and writing, "Hey everyone, that's me at the airport pointing to the next flight to Newark. Flight 3450, 2:27 PM, on time." He later posted video of his arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport and wrote that supporters were thanking him for his work.

Bovino was the face of Trump’s first-year immigration crackdown, known for his bravado-fueled enforcement tactics and his long black SS-style trench coat, which critics such as Governor Gavin Newsom described as “Nazi cosplay.” / Daniel Cole/Reuters

In the same thread, Bovino targeted Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other administration officials for what he described as inadequate responses to protests at Delaney Hall detention center. He also tagged Susie Wiles, a senior Trump adviser, urging a faster and tougher response from the White House.

Trump’s deportation operation has seen significant turnover, with Bovino replaced in his post by Tom Homan, and Kristi Noem by Markwayne Mullin. / KENT NISHIMURA / Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images

The protests at Delaney Hall have drawn national attention after detained migrants began a hunger strike, alleging rotten food, extreme heat, and withheld medical care. ICE officers have reportedly used pepper spray and batons to try to control unrest at the facility.

Bovino on Riot Control: “I don’t know who’s holding these guys back, but basic riot control starts with gas. This should’ve been over in 15 minutes,” he wrote. “Secretary Mullin’s inaction is putting his own agents, the facility, and the detained aliens at risk. Hesitation isn’t compassion — it’s dangerous weakness.”

Bovino was demoted from his role as Border Patrol "commander-at-large" in January and retired in March following nationwide outrage over heavy-handed tactics used during an earlier immigration crackdown, which culminated in federal agents fatally shooting two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, in Minnesota. After those events, President Trump appointed border czar Tom Homan to replace him.

Speaking recently on The Megyn Kelly Show, Bovino described hardline, mass-deportation advocates as being pushed out of the administration and urged a return to more aggressive operations, including roaming patrols and large-scale enforcement actions. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What’s at Stake

Supporters of tougher enforcement have praised Bovino's directness and assertive posture; critics warn that his advocated tactics risk escalating violence and undermining legal and humanitarian standards for detention and deportation. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions inside the administration over how to balance enforcement priorities with public scrutiny and detainee rights.