Federal officials in Minnesota say Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol leader involved in managing the recent immigration deployment in the state, allegedly made offensive remarks about Jewish colleagues during a conference call, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversation.
The call took place on January 12, five days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Participants were coordinating a Saturday meeting on immigration operations. Bovino reportedly expressed frustration that Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, could not attend the meeting due to Sabbath observance.
Sources say Bovino allegedly asked, “Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?” and made further comments referencing “chosen people” in a derogatory manner. One insider described his statements as an “antisemitic rant.”
Reports of Bovino’s conduct were submitted to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the White House. DHS, the White House, and the Justice Department have not responded to requests for comment.
Bovino’s remarks add to tension between federal immigration officials and Minnesota prosecutors amid widespread protests over ICE and Border Patrol actions. Thousands of residents have demonstrated against the federal surge, which followed the Good shooting.
Bovino has a history of controversial behavior. While serving in Chicago during deportation operations in October, a federal judge criticized him for evasive responses and what she described as “cute” answers during deposition. Bovino was reassigned in Minneapolis following backlash over the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by CBP officers. His initial characterization of Pretti as an armed threat was contradicted by witness accounts and video footage, and a government report later omitted claims that Pretti had reached for a weapon.
He will return to his previous role as chief agent in California’s El Centro sector, where he led major operations before his deployments to cities including Los Angeles and Chicago.
The alleged antisemitic comments surface as the Trump administration emphasizes combating antisemitism. Since last year, the Justice Department and Department of Education have launched civil rights investigations into how colleges handled protests affecting Jewish students, particularly during demonstrations over the 2023 Gaza conflict.
