Records Show Border Patrol Commander Retired Under Investigation

Newly released records show that former Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino was under an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Standards when he retired earlier this year. The documents, released under the Freedom of Information Act and posted on DHS’s website, show that investigators were looking into Bovino’s conduct during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago and Minneapolis, as well as an alleged antisemitic comment.

The notification from DHS’s Office of Professional Standards was dated March 2, about two weeks before Bovino publicly announced his retirement. In the letter, investigators asked Bovino to respond in writing to questions about incidents related to Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago and Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

The inquiry focused on a federal judge’s finding that Bovino lacked credibility in a civil rights lawsuit. S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote in a ruling last fall that Bovino’s testimony was “not credible,” and that he appeared “evasive” and either gave “cute” responses or outright lied. Investigators asked Bovino whether he admitted in his deposition that he “lied multiple times about events that occurred in Little Village and prompted him to throw tear gas at protesters,” and whether he knew his credibility issues could jeopardize his ability to testify in cases against protesters.

One question posed to Bovino was: “What do you think should happen to a S. Border Patrol agent when a S. District judge finds his testimony not credible?” The letter also referenced the Supreme Court case Giglio v. United States, which requires prosecutors to disclose credibility issues of witnesses.

The Office of Professional Standards also asked Bovino about an offensive comment he allegedly made during a meeting in Minneapolis with federal prosecutors and other officials. According to reports, the remark came after Bovino was told that an assistant S. Attorney would not respond to calls on Saturdays because he is an Orthodox Jew. Investigators asked: “Did you make a comment to the effect of ‘Do Orthodox criminals also take off ’”

In response, Bovino told WGN in a direct message that he learned of one of the investigations from the New York Times when they called him asking about it. He called the probe a “political hit job” and said he was being targeted to force his retirement. He also accused CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott of weaponizing internal affairs to “kill off a rival” and undermine President Trump’s mass deportation efforts, adding that the upcoming midterms would be a direct result of Scott’s actions.

Bovino claimed that both investigations were “drummed up after I left Minnesota” and that he was falsely accused of lying, saying a review board had ruled in his favor. He also suggested that Trump administration officials took his security detail because they wanted him dead, and accused the administration of turning its back on its promises regarding mass immigration.

A CBP spokesperson said in a statement, “DHS does not comment on matters regarding personnel who are no longer with the agency,” and added that Bovino voluntarily retired. Homeland Security officials did not return requests for comment.

Bovino was the public face of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in several major cities, including Chicago, where he led Operation Midway Blitz, and Minneapolis, where he was relieved of his role as commander-at-large in late January after the fatal shootings of two S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Bovino, citing no evidence, had claimed that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by the Chicago Headline Club and other media groups, which alleged that Border Patrol violated the civil rights of protesters and journalists. Judge Ellis issued a preliminary injunction limiting tear gas use and requiring body cameras.

The newly released records include emails showing that Bovino acknowledged the investigation on March 2 and later emailed an official on March 18 to inform them of his plan to retire and move. CBP posted the emails on its FOIA portal as “frequently requested records.”

Bovino said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that he was placed under investigation “to CAUSE me to retire,” but he maintained that the accusations were unfounded. He said he was falsely accused of lying and that a review board had ruled in his favor.

The investigation was first reported by the Chicago Tribune and later confirmed by other outlets, including CBS News and WJLA, which obtained and reviewed the records.