Border Patrol Chief Accused of Anti-Semitic Remarks Amidst Immigration Crackdown
A high-ranking official within the US Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, is facing serious allegations of making disparaging remarks about a US attorney’s Jewish faith during discussions concerning the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement policies. Insiders have come forward with accounts suggesting that Bovino, who held the title of Commander-at-Large for the agency, used derogatory language towards US Attorney Daniel N. Rosen of Minnesota.
The alleged incident occurred during a phone call on January 12, as reported by The New York Times. Sources cited by the publication claim that Bovino employed the phrase “chosen people,” a well-known reference to Jewish individuals, in a mocking and condescending tone when speaking about Rosen.
Daniel N. Rosen, who was nominated to his position by then-US President Donald Trump, is an Orthodox Jew who observes the Sabbath, known as Shabbat. This observance means he refrains from work and certain activities from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Bovino reportedly made a sarcastic inquiry, questioning whether Rosen understood that Orthodox Jewish criminals did not observe weekends off.
These remarks, according to The New York Times, were made in the context of Bovino urging Rosen to pursue more stringent charges against demonstrators whom Bovino believed were actively obstructing immigration operations. Bovino had become a prominent figure associated with the ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota. His public statements had already drawn significant criticism, particularly following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both aged 37.
In the wake of these controversies, President Trump reportedly removed Bovino from his post in Minneapolis and appointed border czar Tom Homan to replace him.
During the phone call earlier this month, Bovino is said to have expressed frustration that he was unable to reach Rosen over parts of the weekend, attributing this to Shabbat observance. While Rosen had delegated the conversation to a deputy, prosecutors from his office were reportedly privy to the exchange.
Daniel N. Rosen has previously spoken about his personal motivations for entering public service. He identified the “rapid escalation of violent antisemitism in America” as a primary driver for his decision to pursue his role as US Attorney. He articulated his concerns in an interview with 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 call with Bovino occurred just one day before six federal prosecutors from the US Attorney’s office in Minnesota resigned. These resignations were reportedly a protest against the Department of Justice’s handling of the death of Renee Good, who was killed by a federal officer earlier in January.
Renee Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7. The incident took place during a demonstration after she allegedly refused officers’ demands to open her car door. Bovino’s comments following the shooting drew further ire. He described Good’s actions leading up to the shots fired as presenting “a means, intent and opportunity.” He characterized Good’s vehicle as a “four-thousand pound missile” heading towards Agent Ross. Bovino 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.”
Bovino ignited additional backlash after the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti. In this instance, Bovino suggested that law enforcement personnel were the true victims of the incident. He also claimed that Pretti “put himself in that situation” due to his actions. Furthermore, Bovino alleged that Pretti had intended to “massacre” federal agents when he was killed.
The actions and statements by Bovino garnered widespread criticism from prominent Democratic figures across the United States. California Governor Gavin Newsom, for example, issued a scathing remark, suggesting that Bovino’s conduct was “as if [Bovino] literally went on eBay and purchased SS garb,” drawing a comparison to Adolf Hitler’s notorious Schutzstaffel.
Bovino departed from Minneapolis earlier this week, and Tom Homan was quickly installed as his successor. Homan commented on the change, stating, “President Trump and I, along with others in the administration, have recognized that certain improvements could and should be made.”
Initial reports had suggested that Bovino had been terminated. However, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, refuted these claims on Monday. She described Bovino as “a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”
Inquiries were made to the Department of Homeland Security, its assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin, US Customs and Border Protection, Bovino himself, the Department of Justice, and the office of Daniel N. Rosen for comment. The New York Times reported that McLaughlin did not directly address the allegations of anti-Semitic remarks. Instead, she was quoted as saying, “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?”
