Border Patrol Chief Accused of Disparaging Jewish Faith Amid Immigration Crackdown Controversy
A senior US Border Patrol official, Gregory Bovino, is reportedly facing allegations of making disparaging remarks about the Jewish faith of a US attorney during discussions concerning the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Bovino, who held the title of Commander-at-Large for the agency, is accused of mocking the religious beliefs of Minnesota’s US Attorney Daniel N. Rosen in a phone conversation on January 12.
According to sources cited by The New York Times, Bovino allegedly used the phrase “chosen people,” a common reference to Jewish individuals, in a derisive manner when speaking about Rosen. Rosen, an Orthodox Jew who observes Shabbat, was nominated to his position by then-US President Donald Trump. The report further suggests that Bovino sarcastically questioned whether Rosen understood that Orthodox Jewish criminals do not observe weekends off, implying a lack of diligence in prosecuting cases.
These controversial comments reportedly surfaced as Bovino was urging Rosen to pursue more stringent charges against individuals he believed were impeding immigration operations. Bovino had become a prominent figure in the ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota, drawing significant public criticism, particularly following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37 years old.
In the wake of these controversies, President Trump reportedly reassigned Bovino from Minneapolis, replacing him with former acting ICE Director Tom Homan.
During the January 12 phone call, Bovino is said to have expressed frustration about his inability to reach Rosen on certain weekends due to his observance of Shabbat. While Rosen had delegated the conversation to a deputy, prosecutors from his office were reportedly present and overheard the exchange.
Daniel N. Rosen has previously spoken about his personal motivations for entering public service, citing the “rapid escalation of violent antisemitism in America” as a primary concern. He articulated his perspective to Jewish Insider, stating, “Jewish history tells us that Jews fare poorly in societies that turn polarized, and where that polarization evolves into factional hatreds in the non-Jewish societies within which we live. Those factional hatreds virtually always evolve into violent expressions of hate against the Jews.” Rosen also shared that his adherence to Orthodox Judaism was a gradual transition throughout his early adulthood and that he dedicates time daily to studying the Talmud.
The fallout from Bovino’s alleged remarks was compounded by subsequent events. Just one day after the call with Bovino, six federal prosecutors from the US Attorney’s office in Minnesota resigned. Their resignations were reportedly a protest against the Department of Justice’s handling of the death of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 in Minneapolis.
The incident occurred during a demonstration when ICE agents allegedly demanded Good open her car door, and she reportedly refused. Bovino’s characterization of the events leading to the shooting was stark. He described Good and her wife Rebecca’s actions as presenting “a means, intent and opportunity” and referred to Good’s vehicle as a “four-thousand pound missile” heading towards Agent Ross. He concluded his remarks by stating, “Hats off to that ICE agent. I’m glad he made it out alive, I’m glad he’s with his family.”
Further controversy arose following the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti. In this instance, Bovino controversially stated that law enforcement officers were the true victims and that Pretti “put himself in that situation” due to his actions. Bovino also alleged that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents at the time of his death.
These statements and actions by Bovino drew widespread criticism from prominent Democratic figures across the United States, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom publicly commented that Bovino’s rhetoric was “as if [Bovino] literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb,” a pointed reference to Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary organization.
Bovino’s departure from Minneapolis occurred earlier in the week, with Tom Homan stepping in to replace him. Homan indicated that the administrative changes were part of an effort to implement “certain improvements” recognized by President Trump and his administration. While initial reports suggested Bovino had been fired, this was officially denied by Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Press Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. On Monday, she described Bovino as “a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”
The Daily Mail has reportedly sought comment from various entities, including the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, Gregory Bovino, the Department of Justice, and the office of Daniel N. Rosen. The New York Times indicated that Tricia McLaughlin did not directly address the allegations concerning Bovino’s alleged remarks. Instead, she reportedly responded by suggesting a focus on more pressing issues, stating, “Instead of focusing on gossip, why don’t you focus on something actually important like the victims of illegal alien crime or the criminals taken out of Minneapolis communities?”
