Gregory Bovino: Anti-Immigrant Activist & Child Arrests

“`html

Rome, 24 January 2026 – A military green coat, described by some as reminiscent of Nazi-era leadership, and tear gas deployed against protesters: these are the images defining Gregory ‘Greg’ Bovino, the 55-year-old head of the U.S. Border Patrol, as his agency’s reach expands into American cities.

Border Patrol’s Expanding Role Under Fire

The agency, traditionally focused on border security, is now facing scrutiny for its tactics in urban areas amid escalating protests.

• Gregory Bovino, the current head of the Border Patrol, has a family history tracing back to Italian immigration.
• The agency’s tactics,including the use of tear gas,have sparked protests in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
• Bovino’s leadership has been marked by a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
• Concerns are rising about the potential deployment of ICE agents to secure the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Bovino’s face, frequently enough the only one visible among masked agents, has become increasingly well-known as demonstrations grow against President Donald Trump’s policies on irregular immigration and crime. Ironically, the man leading this crackdown is the grandson of Vincenzo Bovino, who immigrated from Calabria, Italy, in 1924.

Bovino holds a degree in conservation of natural resources, along with two master’s degrees – one in public governance and another from the National War College. He joined the Border Patrol in 1996, beginning his career in the El Centro area of Southern California, an area known for drug trafficking and illegal immigration along the Mexican border.

Appointed commander in 2019, Bovino has steered the Border Patrol toward a more assertive and action-oriented approach, a departure from its traditionally more bureaucratic role. He signaled his alignment with Trump even before the president’s second term, with operations like “Return to Sender” in 2025, which resulted in the arrest of 78 Peruvian workers – deemed “criminals” despite lacking only valid documentation – within three days.

Last October, he was appointed commander in chief of the Border Patrol, reporting to Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi noem.

Gregory Bovino with Border Patrol agents in Minnesota (Ansa)

Escalating Tensions and Arrests of Minors

Recent protests in Minneapolis have seen the Border Patrol “stop” a 5-year-old boy,sparking further outrage. Bovino defended the agency’s actions, stating, “I will say unequivocally that here at the Border Patrol we are experts in managing minors. Not because we want it, but because we are forced to,” and claiming hundreds of thousands of children are being brought across the border. “We will not stop until we have arrested them all,” he added.

The Border Patrol works closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which yesterday detained a 2-year-old child with her father, placing the child in a Texas detention center before reuniting her with her mother.

Did you know?– The Border Patrol’s authority was initially limited to a 5-mile zone from U.S. borders, but has expanded significantly over time.

Pro tip– The term “irregular immigration” is preferred by some organizations over “illegal immigration” as it is indeed considered less stigmatizing.

Reader question– Can the Border Patrol operate without a warrant in private property? Generally, they need probable cause and may be limited by the Fourth Amendment.

Rumors are circulating that ICE agents may be deployed to Italy to assist with security during the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated,”At the moment we are