Greg Bovino defended his record during a July 9, 2026, interview with Tomi Lahren, saying he had no regrets about his immigration enforcement work and would have pursued it more forcefully.

“I’ve got no regrets about anything,” Bovino said. “Except, that I wish I had gone even harder.”

He called himself “very unapologetic” and said, “I won’t apologize for a legal, ethical, lawful, and much needed law enforcement mission.”

Bovino announced his retirement over the weekend after returning to the El Centro Sector in California. He left federal service on March 31, 2026, following a temporary assignment as Border Patrol Commander-at-Large that ran from October 2025 through January 2026.

The former official said he still had “gas in the tank” for immigration enforcement. He said he would have wanted to arrest “99 million” of the “100 million illegal aliens” he claimed remained in the country.

Bovino also pointed to public encounters as evidence that the enforcement campaign had support. “90% are people saying, ‘Can I get a picture with you? Thank you. We’re sorry what happened to you,’” he said.

Background on Bovino’s Role

His appearance came after a period in which he became one of the most visible figures in the Trump administration’s domestic immigration operations. He oversaw Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, which produced more than 4,500 arrests, as well as Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security said its campaign removed over 622,000 individuals in 2025. The agency’s Year in Review 2025 data also reported a 93% drop in border crossings, with monthly apprehensions averaging 53% lower than during the previous administration.

Bovino’s enforcement model included a “turn and burn” approach, involving fast-moving raids intended to arrest and process people before protesters could organize. He frequently appeared in tactical equipment carrying M4 rifles.

His leadership assignment ended in January 2026 after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, during raids in Minneapolis. Bovino initially said Pretti meant to “massacre” agents. Later video showed Pretti with a phone in his hand.

Pretti’s parents described the administration’s claims as “reprehensible and disgusting lies” in a January 25, 2026, statement. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said the tactics represented a “march toward autocracy.”

Bovino also criticized advisers who he said had urged President Donald Trump to moderate the administration’s approach. “If I had something to do over, I would have briefed Trump face-to-face and cut out that team. that maybe plied him with polling and things like that,” he said.

Department Changes After Bovino’s Departure

His departure followed other changes at the department. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was fired in March 2026, and Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks resigned in May 2026.

As of June 2026, Rosario “Pete” Vasquez was the agency’s chief. Markwayne Mullin was the nominee to lead Homeland Security as of July 2026.

Bovino’s comments kept him aligned with the administration’s hardest-line enforcement faction, even after his retirement. He said he would have expanded the campaign had he remained in command.