Full Breakdown
Former Border Patrol Commander Claims Trump Officials Want Him Dead
8/29/2026, 1:10:06 AM
Alleged Threat Against Gregory Bovino
Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino told conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson that members of the Trump administration are seeking his death. Bovino, who helped lead the 2022 Minnesota immigration crackdown, said his federal security detail was removed immediately after he left government service, leaving him vulnerable to “death threats.” He specifically named Border Czar Tom Homan and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott as officials he believes are responsible.
Background to the Minnesota Immigration Operation
Bovino was appointed by the Trump administration to serve as the public face of a mass-deportation push, traveling nationwide while Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faced intense scrutiny. In Minnesota, the operation culminated in the fatal shooting of two civilians by federal officers, prompting widespread criticism and the eventual removal of Bovino from the role earlier this year.
Official Statements & Responses
- White House spokesperson Lauren Bis described Bovino’s allegation as “absurd.”
- The same DHS statement added that the agency does not comment on personnel matters concerning former officials.
Data & Statistics on Undocumented Population Claims
Bovino asserted that 105 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, a figure that would represent roughly one-third of the nation’s population. This claim is attributed to Bovino and is not supported by the data cited in the sources.
- The U.S. Census reports about 50 million immigrants overall, an established fact.
- The Pew Research Center estimates 14 million illegal immigrants as of 2023, also an established fact.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Population figures: Bovino’s 105 million estimate conflicts sharply with the Census and Pew numbers. No evidence was provided to substantiate his claim, and the sources present the official estimates as the reliable baseline.
- Security detail policy: Bovino alleges the removal of his protection was a targeted effort to silence him. DHS officials attribute the removal to standard legal procedure that ends when a person leaves federal service. The sources do not include independent verification of either motive, leaving a gap in confirming whether the action was routine or punitive.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Do I think they want me killed? Absolutely,” — Gregory Bovino
- “Silence you, like get you killed? Because that’s what it sounds like,” — Tucker Carlson
- “A kid who is out observing something that should not be happening in this world today, in the United States,” — Susan
- “This is, in my opinion, of course, the greatest issue and greatest threat that our nation has faced since its founding. I’m including the Civil War in that,” — Gregory Bovino
- “This narrative that it [immigration] steals American jobs is true in some industries. It’s not true for all industries,” — Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma senator – stated on August 1
The dispute centers on whether the removal of Bovino’s security detail was a routine administrative action or a deliberate attempt to endanger him, and on the accuracy of his population statistics. Both the White House and DHS maintain that established policies, not personal vendettas, dictated the outcome.
