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Gabinete de los Horrores: Gregory Bovino -- CBP Commander-at-Large

Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Last Updated: 2026-02-12
Confidence: HIGH -- 20+ sources across Tier 1-2 outlets, federal court findings, deposition transcripts, official CBP press releases, video evidence, and Congressional testimony

Summary

Two U.S. Citizens Killed Under His Command

Bovino commanded operations that led to the deaths of Renee Good (January 7, 2026) and Alex Pretti (January 24, 2026) in Minneapolis, plus the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Chicago. A federal judge found him "outright lying" under oath.

Gregory Kent Bovino (born March 27, 1970) served as the U.S. Border Patrol's commander-at-large from October 2025 to January 2026, overseeing the most aggressive domestic immigration enforcement operations in American history. A 28-year Border Patrol veteran, Bovino commanded operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis that collectively led to thousands of arrests, multiple shootings of civilians, and the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January 2026.

A federal judge found Bovino was "outright lying" under oath about use of force during his Chicago operations. Hours after CBP agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times in Chicago, Bovino emailed Exum praising his "excellent service" and offering to extend his retirement. Hours after federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Bovino told the press Pretti intended to "do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement" -- a claim contradicted by every piece of video evidence. He was also accused of making antisemitic remarks about a Jewish federal prosecutor on a conference call.

Following the Pretti killing, Bovino was removed from his command and reassigned to his old position at the El Centro sector in California. He is expected to retire.

Background

Education

  • Bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, Natural Resources Management and Forestry, Western Carolina University (1993)
  • Master's degree, Public Administration, Appalachian State University (1996)
  • Master's degree, National Security Strategy, National War College

Career Timeline

  • 1996: Joined the Boone (NC) Police Department briefly, then joined U.S. Border Patrol as a member of Class 325 at the Border Patrol Academy. Assigned to El Paso, Texas sector.
  • 1999: Promoted to Senior Patrol Agent.
  • 2002: Promoted to Supervisory Border Patrol Agent. Served in tactical assignments including BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit). Helped develop the agency's Marksman Observer training program.
  • 2004: Transferred to Yuma, Arizona sector.
  • 2008: Promoted to assistant chief at Yuma sector headquarters, then to patrol agent in charge at the Blythe, California station.
  • 2012: Promoted to Patrol Agent in Charge, Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station (417 agents, 6 miles of international border, 66 miles of coastline).
  • 2016: Promoted to Associate Chief of Policy, Border Patrol Headquarters (senior executive role).
  • 2018 (July): Appointed Chief Patrol Agent, New Orleans Sector (694 miles of coastal border, 516 counties across seven states).
  • 2020 (April): Appointed Chief Patrol Agent, El Centro Sector (70 miles of land border, inland areas extending to Oregon).
  • 2023 (August): Relieved of command at El Centro under the Biden administration after Congressional testimony critical of border conditions and inappropriate social media posts, including a profile picture posing with an M4 assault rifle.
  • 2025 (June): Named tactical commander of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Los Angeles. Oversaw more than 5,000 arrests. His title -- commander-at-large -- was newly created, reporting directly to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
  • 2025 (September-October): Led Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. More than 3,000 arrests.
  • 2025 (December): Began leading Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. 3,000+ federal agents deployed to Minnesota.
  • 2026 (January 26): Removed from command in Minneapolis and reassigned to El Centro. Expected to retire.

(Sources: CBP press releases; Wikipedia; TIME; CNN; WBEZ; PBS; 10News)

The Killing of Alex Pretti -- January 24, 2026

Bovino's Command Responsibility

On January 24, 2026, Border Patrol agents under Bovino's command shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, during a confrontation on a Minneapolis street. Pretti was the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, the first being Renee Good (January 7).

Pretti had no criminal record. He had a Minnesota permit to carry a firearm. Video evidence showed him holding a cellphone, not a weapon, in the moments before the confrontation. The government's own internal review, per NPR reporting, contained no mention of Pretti attacking officers or threatening agents with a weapon. Ten shots were fired in less than five seconds. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.

Bovino's False Statements

Pattern: Systematic False Statements After Killings

Bovino made false public claims about Pretti within hours of the killing -- the same pattern documented in the federal agent conduct report. Every major claim was contradicted by video evidence.

Within hours of the killing, Bovino made statements to the press and DHS posted a statement on X containing claims that were systematically contradicted by video evidence:

Bovino's claim: "This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."

Bovino's claim: Pretti "approached" agents with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and "violently resisted" when officers tried to disarm him.

DHS statement (11:31 AM CT): The suspect had two magazines and no ID, suggesting he wanted to "do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."

What the video evidence showed:
- Pretti was holding a cellphone, filming agents
- An officer pepper-sprayed Pretti first
- An agent removed Pretti's legally carried firearm from his waistband before the first shot was fired
- Pretti was fully disarmed before he was shot
- The government's own internal review contained no mention of Pretti attacking officers

See the full Alex Pretti dossier and the 2026 death statistics.

CNN's Dana Bash asked Bovino directly: "What evidence do you have that he wanted to massacre law enforcement?" Bovino dodged the question.

Pretti's parents issued a statement: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."

(Sources: CNN; NPR; PBS; ABC News; FactCheck.org; CBS Minnesota; Irish Times; Star Tribune)

Prior Pattern: "Outright Lying" Under Oath

Federal Judge Sara Ellis's 233-Page Ruling (November 2025)

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in a 233-page ruling supporting an injunction limiting federal agents' use of force in Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz, found Bovino to be "evasive," "not credible," and "outright lying" during three days of deposition testimony.

Ellis wrote: "Bovino appeared evasive over the three days of his deposition, either providing 'cute' responses to Plaintiffs' counsel's questions or outright lying."

Key findings from the ruling:

Tear gas incident: Bovino admitted he lied about throwing a tear gas canister into a crowd in Little Village, Chicago. He initially claimed he deployed tear gas because he'd been hit in the head by a rock. Under further questioning, he admitted the rock did not hit his helmet until after he deployed the tear gas. In a third session, he admitted no rock was thrown at him at all before he deployed the first tear gas canister.

Tackling a protester: Bovino repeatedly denied tackling a man to the ground despite video showing him clearly using physical force against the protester. The judge found he was "outright lying."

False gang association claims: Bovino told the court that individuals in Little Village were wearing maroon hoodies consistent with the Latin Kings gang. The judge found that maroon is not a color used to signal Latin Kings membership.

ChatGPT-generated use of force reports: Ellis documented that, in at least one incident, a federal agent under Bovino's command used ChatGPT to create a use of force report based on images and a brief sentence about an encounter with protesters.

Ellis concluded: "The Court finds Defendants' evidence simply not credible. It is difficult, if not impossible, to believe almost anything that Defendants represent."

(Sources: CBS Chicago; WTTW; FOX 9; Block Club Chicago; ABC News; Reason; Yahoo News)

The Bovino-Exum Connection: "Excellent Service"

Gregory Bovino, email to Agent Charles Exum, October 4, 2025

Praising Exum's "excellent service in Chicago" and offering to "extend your retirement beyond age 57" -- sent hours after Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times, while she was still in the hospital.

On October 4, 2025, CBP Agent Charles Exum, operating under Bovino's command during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, shot Marimar Martinez five times. Martinez, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen and Montessori school assistant, survived.

At approximately 3:00 PM that same day -- while Martinez was still in the hospital recovering from multiple gunshot wounds -- Bovino emailed Exum praising his "excellent service in Chicago" and offering to "extend your retirement beyond age 57" because Exum had "much yet left to do."

Exum later texted colleagues: "Everyone has been [supportive] including Chief Bovino, Chief Banks, Sec Noem and El Jefe himself ... according to Bovino." ("El Jefe" is believed to refer to President Trump.)

The charges against Martinez were dismissed with prejudice after the government admitted the "ramming" incident did not occur. DHS continued to refer to Martinez as a "domestic terrorist" on its website as late as February 2026.

(Sources: CBS Chicago; CNN; NBC Chicago; New Republic; WTTW; Block Club Chicago)

Antisemitic Remarks -- January 12, 2026

On a January 12 conference call with federal officials coordinating immigration enforcement in Minnesota, Bovino was informed that Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, could not attend a Saturday meeting because he observes the Sabbath.

According to multiple sources familiar with the call:

  • Bovino responded with audible frustration
  • He asked: "Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?"
  • He used the phrase "chosen people" in a disparaging manner
  • One source described the exchange as an "antisemitic rant"

The call came five days after the killing of Renee Good. The day after the call, six veteran federal prosecutors resigned from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's office.

Reports of Bovino's conduct were submitted to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ, and the White House. None have responded publicly.

During his time in Minnesota, Bovino was frequently photographed wearing an Army green overcoat with metallic buttons that drew widespread criticism online for its resemblance to uniforms worn by military officers in Nazi Germany. Federal officials described the coat as standard-issue Border Patrol winter dress.

(Sources: CBS News; Times of Israel; Jerusalem Post; JFeed; USA Herald; GV Wire; Yahoo News)

Removal from Command

Following the Pretti killing, Bovino faced criticism from within the Trump administration. On January 26, 2026:

  • The Atlantic reported Bovino had been removed as commander-at-large (DHS initially denied this)
  • NBC News reported Bovino and some agents were leaving Minneapolis
  • President Trump announced Tom Homan would take direct charge of the Minnesota operation
  • Bovino was reassigned to his old position at El Centro, California

Reason's Liz Wolfe wrote that Bovino was being "put out to pasture."

As of February 2026, Bovino is expected to retire. He told the Associated Press in September 2025 that after reaching mandatory retirement age of 57, he planned to "return to North Carolina to harvest apples."

(Sources: NBC News; The Atlantic; FOX 9; NewsNation; Reason)

Notable Statements

"This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."
-- Gregory Bovino, press conference, January 24, 2026, hours after Alex Pretti was killed. Contradicted by every piece of video evidence.

"Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?"
-- Gregory Bovino, conference call, January 12, 2026, after being told a Jewish prosecutor observed Shabbat. (Reported by multiple sources on the call)

[Praising Exum's] "excellent service in Chicago" [and offering to] "extend your retirement beyond age 57."
-- Gregory Bovino, email to Agent Charles Exum, October 4, 2025, hours after Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times.

[Bovino provided] "'cute' responses to Plaintiffs' counsel's questions or outright lying."
-- U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, 233-page ruling, November 2025.

Assessment

No Accountability

Despite commanding operations that killed two U.S. citizens, being found "outright lying" under oath by a federal judge, and making antisemitic remarks on a government call, Bovino faces no criminal charges and is expected to retire with full benefits. See the federal agent conduct pattern report.

Gregory Bovino is a career Border Patrol officer who, over 28 years, rose to the highest operational command in the agency's domestic enforcement apparatus. Under the second Trump administration, he was given unprecedented authority as commander-at-large -- a newly created position reporting directly to the DHS Secretary -- and used it to lead operations that resulted in mass arrests, widespread use of force against civilians, and the deaths and shootings of U.S. citizens.

His pattern is documented:
- In Chicago: A federal judge found him "outright lying" under oath about use of force. He praised the agent who shot Martinez. His agents used ChatGPT to fabricate use-of-force reports.
- In Minneapolis: He publicly accused a dead man of wanting to "massacre law enforcement" before any investigation. The claim was contradicted by all available evidence. He made antisemitic remarks about a federal prosecutor.
- Under oath: He changed his story three times about a tear gas incident, eventually admitting his original justification was fabricated.

Bovino was not held accountable in any meaningful way. He was reassigned to his prior position and is expected to retire with full benefits. No criminal charges have been filed. No disciplinary action has been made public beyond the reassignment. The system he commanded -- its culture of impunity, its reflexive lies about use of force, its contempt for accountability -- continues to operate.

Confidence Level: HIGH. Core facts verified across 20+ independent sources including federal court findings, deposition transcripts, video evidence, official CBP communications, and reporting from Tier 1 and Tier 2 outlets.

Sources

Tier 1 (Primary/Investigative)

Tier 2 (Reliable Journalism)

Reference

This dossier is part of the Gabinete de los Horrores (Cabinet of Horrors), documenting named officials responsible for policies and actions that have led to deaths, civil rights violations, and the construction of the deportation machine.

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only