Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino to Retire After Leading Largest Interior Immigration Enforcement Operations

Bovino oversaw sweeping raids and operations in major U.S. cities during his nearly 30-year career with the agency.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:40pm

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Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent and CBP Operations Commander Gregory Bovino is set to retire at the end of March, bringing an end to a nearly 30-year career with the agency. Bovino is best known for leading U.S. Customs and Border Protection teams in the most sweeping mass-immigration enforcement operations in the agency's history, including large-scale raids and operations in major cities across the U.S.

Why it matters

Bovino's tenure oversaw a significant shift in the Border Patrol's role, moving from traditional border enforcement to aggressive interior immigration operations that often faced opposition from local politicians and activists in sanctuary cities. His approach marked a departure from the agency's typical responsibilities and sparked debates over the appropriate scope of federal immigration enforcement.

The details

As the public face of President Trump's interior immigration enforcement, Bovino led Border Patrol agents on deployments involving sweeping raids miles inland from the border. He directed operations in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis that resulted in thousands of illegal alien apprehensions. These operations often faced violent protests, with agents coming under attack from activists using vehicles, rocks, and even firearms.

  • Bovino will retire at the end of March 2026, after nearly 30 years with the Border Patrol.
  • In the summer of 2025, Bovino oversaw operations in Los Angeles that netted over 5,000 illegal alien arrests.
  • In late 2025 and early 2026, Bovino led 'Operation Midway Blitz' in Chicago and 'Operation Metro Surge' in Minneapolis, which were described as the largest interior immigration enforcement operations in the agency's history.

The players

Gregory Bovino

Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent and CBP Operations Commander who is retiring after nearly 30 years with the agency, during which he led sweeping interior immigration enforcement operations in major U.S. cities.

Tom Homan

Trump Border Czar who assumed command of the 'Operation Metro Surge' in Minneapolis in February 2026, leading to a swift drawdown of the operation.

Renee Nicole Good

An activist suspected of trying to run over an ICE agent with her vehicle, leading to the agent shooting and killing her in early January 2026.

Alex Pretti

A protester who was shot by Border Patrol agents in late January 2026 after resisting arrest and being found to be carrying a concealed firearm.

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What they’re saying

“The greatest honor of my entire life was to work alongside Border Patrol agents on the border and in the interior of the United States in some of the most challenging conditions the agency has ever faced.”

— Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent and CBP Operations Commander (Breitbart)

“Watching these agents out there giving it their all in some of the most dangerous of environments we have ever faced was humbling.”

— Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent and CBP Operations Commander (Breitbart)

What’s next

The investigations into the two agent-involved shootings connected to the 'Operation Metro Surge' in Minneapolis are ongoing.

The takeaway

Bovino's tenure oversaw a significant shift in the Border Patrol's role, moving from traditional border enforcement to aggressive interior immigration operations that often faced opposition from local politicians and activists in sanctuary cities. His approach marked a departure from the agency's typical responsibilities and sparked debates over the appropriate scope of federal immigration enforcement.