The unmasked figure who became the face of Trump's immigration efforts
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Customs and Border Protection Officer Gregory Bovino with his security team on Jan. 21, 2026. Photo: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino emerged as a central figure in President Trump's immigration crackdown, often the only unmasked figure as federal agents descend on Democratic-run cities.
Why it matters: Bovino embodies President Trump's heavy-handed and highly visible approach to immigration, steadfastly defending his agents even when video evidence contradicts his narrative.
Driving the news: Bovino has made repeated TV appearances since federal agents allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti on Saturday, defending officers' conduct and claiming Pretti "wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."
- But videos of the encounter show Pretti observing immigration enforcement, not trying to escalate or harm agents.
- Still, Bovino has praised his officers' quick thinking and bravery, echoing language used during previous clashes over immigration operations.
What he's saying: "I'm not blaming the Border Patrol agents," Bovino said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.
- "The victims are the Border Patrol agents. The suspect put himself in that situation."
- "What our officers are faced with here in Minneapolis are chaotic, very difficult and violent situations. ... Follow directions for law enforcement. Don't inject yourself knowingly, beforehand, into a law enforcement situation."
- CBP did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: Bovino has overseen recent operations in Minneapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, Sacramento, Calif., and Charlotte, N.C.
- His omnipresence at podiums in Minneapolis and elsewhere has made nearly everything Bovino does — from interviews to his fashion choices — newsworthy.
- Bovino described his agents' tactics as "turn and burn," moving quickly and leaving raid sites within minutes to avoid standoffs with demonstrators.
- His social media accounts regularly tout officers arresting undocumented immigrants, promoting videos in line with the administration's fondness for former reality TV stars and political talk-show veterans.
Here's what to know about Bovino:
What's Bovino's role in operations?
Bovino is Border Patrol's commander-at-large, leading large-scale, immigration enforcement operations nationwide.
- He joined the agency in 1996, and was named chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector of Southern California in 2020, one of the agency's nine geographic divisions.
- He was briefly relieved of command in August 2023 for a series of transgressions, including social media posts that were considered inappropriate and for his conduct during a sworn congressional testimony, according to the Associated Press.
- During operations in Chicago, a judge ordered Bovino to wear a body camera and provide daily updates on agents' use of force.
What's Bovino's background?
Bovino grew up in North Carolina, and says he was inspired to become a Border Patrol agent after watching the 1982 movie "The Border," according to the Chicago Sun Times.
- He got his start in law enforcement in Western North Carolina at the Boone Police Department in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He's the son of Italian immigrants, and has a bachelors in natural resource conservation from Western Carolina University and a master's from Appalachian State University.
Go deeper: Border Patrol chief praises agents who killed Alex Pretti
