In a bold move, the former head of the Border Patrol, Greg Bovino, is openly challenging the current administration’s handling of protests at an ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. Bovino, who previously served under President Trump, is taking a stand that could be seen as a rebellion against the White House’s current strategy.
Bovino announced his involvement in the unfolding situation by sharing a selfie from an airport, stating his intention to personally observe the protests in Newark. His social media post was direct, mentioning the difficulties faced by authorities in managing the protests. He singled out Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, suggesting that efforts to control the situation were not effective.
In his post, Bovino engaged his followers, asking for their input on whether he should take matters into his own hands. He expressed concern for the safety of the agents involved, criticizing what he perceives as a lack of decisive action.
His message also caught the attention of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, whom he tagged in his post, signaling the seriousness of his stance and the level of attention he wants to bring to the issue.
In response to Bovino’s remarks, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s approach. She emphasized that despite criticism, President Trump and his team remain committed to enforcing immigration laws, contrasting their stance with that of their Democratic counterparts, whom she accused of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over American citizens.
‘While Democrats continue to put criminal illegal aliens before American citizens, President Trump and his entire team will never waver when it comes to enforcing the law,’ White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement responding to Bovino’s post.
The combative social media post underscores the rocky relationship the West Wing has with its former Border Patrol star who was deployed to Los Angeles, Chicago and Minnesota to reinforce Trump’s sweeping deportation orders.
Bovino left his post after two Americans were shot and killed by immigration officials in Minneapolis this January. Conflicting reports dispute whether Bovino was fired or if he left on his own accord.
Wiles noted in a December Vanity Fair interview that the administration needed to be more careful in its deportation processes. At the time, Bovino was the face of Trump’s deportation machine.
Former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino posted a selfie on Thursday showing him heading to Newark, New Jersey, to witness firsthand the protests there
Bovino’s post included a shot at current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin
The former Border Patrol commander also mentioned White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in his post, claiming ‘those agents’ lives are at stake due to this inaction’
Bovino wasn’t the only culprit for the deaths of Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem left the department in early March.
Noem was embroiled in multiple controversies when she departed, including her rumored affair with her subordinate, Corey Lewandowski, a controversial $220 million DHS ad campaign that prominently featured herself, her penchant for wearing full makeup and law enforcement gear – earning her the nickname ‘ICE Barbie’ – and other infractions.
Since Mullin has replaced Noem as DHS boss, Bovino has looked for opportunities to rebuke the Trump Cabinet official.
In April, after Mullin said in a CNBC interview that DHS is doing deportations ‘in a more quiet way,’ the former Border Patrol commander chided the secretary.
‘How exactly does the “quiet way” cause mass deportations,’ Bovino wrote. ‘Mass deportations is what we are after, not being quiet.’
On Thursday morning Mullin defended the ICE center: ‘Not only are we providing them a safe place to stay, and food, and a place to sleep, but we’re also giving them a convenience store to buy products out of. So we’re going above and beyond.’
DHS has been contacted for comment.
Conflicting reports probe whether Bovino was fired by the Trump administration or if he left on his own accord
Bovino’s hard-driving tactics appear at odds with the White House’s new ‘quiet’ deportation model, exposing a fissure in strategy.
In Newark, inmates at the ICE detention center have begun a hunger strike, claiming conditions within the center are not up to standards.
The migrants claim that they have been served beans and salad with worms inside, have been placed in crowded rooms without air conditioning and have had their immigration cases ignored by federal judges, the New Jersey Monitor reported.
Some have been there for a year.
For days, protestors have clashed with authorities outside of the center. On Monday, New Jersey Senator Andy Kim was pepper sprayed during a clash between activists and authorities.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and Kim, alongside several members of the state’s Democratic-heavy delegation, showed up to the building on Monday demanding answers about the reportedly squalid conditions.
Kim was allowed in the building after being impacted from the pepper balls authorities fired toward protestors.
‘What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country,’ Kim told NJ.com, adding that he had trouble breathing.
Kim – who said earlier Monday the facility should be shut down ‘immediately’ – said before the melee broke out that he was trying to get the agents to stop pointing guns at protesters and broker a truce that would allow immigration activists to inspect cars leaving the facility.
