Greg Bovino Begs To Get His Old Job Back Amid ICE Protests
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Greg Bovino may be out of his national command role. But he is not staying quiet. The former Border Patrol commander-at-large has reentered the immigration debate with a blunt social media push aimed at the crisis outside Delaney Hall, the ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. The site has become a new flashpoint in America’s immigration fight, with daily protests, arrests, clashes and claims of harsh conditions inside the facility.
Hey everyone, that’s me at the airport pointing to the next flight to Newark. Flight 3450, 2:27 PM, on time.@SenMullin and the rest of them have been trying to handle these riots and… well, let’s just say it’s not going great.
For those of you in the comments section, give a… pic.twitter.com/CC12CwlPzw
— Gregory K Bovino (@GregoryKBovino) May 28, 2026
Bovino, once one of the most visible faces of President Donald Trump’s deportation crackdown, criticized the federal response and suggested agents should take a harder line. In one post, he argued that “basic riot control starts with gas” and claimed the situation should have ended within minutes.
The message landed like an audition.
A Hardliner Returns To The Stage
Greg Bovino became famous inside Trump’s immigration campaign for leading aggressive federal deployments in Democratic-run cities. His teams appeared in Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans and Minneapolis, where masked agents and highly visible street operations turned him into a MAGA enforcement symbol.
That rise ended in Minneapolis. Bovino lost his commander-at-large role after a wave of backlash over federal immigration operations there. The turning point came after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during separate incidents involving federal immigration agents in January.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot by Border Patrol agents. Renee Good, also 37, was killed by an ICE officer earlier that month. Their deaths triggered national outrage, legal pressure and fresh scrutiny of federal use-of-force policies. After that, the administration shifted command in Minnesota. Border czar Tom Homan took over operations. Bovino was sent back to his post in El Centro, California.
Newark Becomes The New Battlefield
Now Newark has become the center of the immigration fight. Protesters have gathered outside Delaney Hall over conditions inside the detention center and a reported hunger strike by detainees. Demonstrators have tried to block vehicles. Federal agents have used force to move crowds back. Officials have reported arrests and assaults on law enforcement.
New Jersey Democrats have demanded access and oversight. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she was blocked from entering the facility. Sen. Andy Kim was reportedly pepper-sprayed during the protests. DHS has denied claims that detainees lack care and has defended the facility’s operations. Into this already volatile scene came Bovino, presenting himself as the man who could restore order.
A Political Test For Trump’s ICE Crackdown
The question now is whether Trump’s team wants him back in the spotlight. For hardliners, Bovino represents the kind of no-compromise enforcement they believe the administration needs as protests spread around ICE facilities. For critics, he symbolizes the excesses that already pushed Minneapolis into crisis. His return would send a clear message: the administration is choosing escalation over restraint.
