A former hard-line immigration official is building a new platform after leaving government, combining sharp criticism, media appearances, business ventures, and political ambition.

Greg Bovino, who became one of the most prominent advocates of Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies during his first administration, began criticizing the White House after his resignation for failing to carry out mass deportations quickly enough. He now appears on conservative podcasts, travels around Europe, and is working on a book about his experience in the federal administration.

Based on data from CNN

After leaving office, Bovino also launched his own whiskey brand, “The Commander’s Choice.” A bottle is available for preorder at $99. The label bears the slogan, “Deport them all. America First.” According to Bovino, the drink is “great for law enforcement” and compatible with the principles of a keto diet.

His activity has irritated administration officials. At the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which previously gave Bovino broad authority, he is described as a “disgruntled” former employee. Bovino himself is outraged by the decision to end his security detail after his retirement. He also says he regularly receives death threats.

Do I think they want to kill me? At this point – yes.

– Greg Bovino in an interview with Tucker Carlson

In a series of interviews and podcasts, Bovino said he was removed after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti – two U.S. citizens who were shot by federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis this year. In his view, those events prompted the administration to abandon the most radical version of its immigration policy.

I wanted to continue moving toward mass deportations and try to save America from what is happening because of immigration. I don’t see mass deportations taking place the way I believe they should.

– Greg Bovino

Why Greg Bovino Believes Immigration Policy Is Not Tough Enough

Bovino argues that the threat to the United States comes not only from criminals and terrorists. He also includes immigrants who, in his view, are failing to integrate into American society.

He supports temporarily suspending all immigration to the United States. In addition, Bovino favors deporting not only people who are in the country without legal status, but also legal immigrants who do not fit his vision of American culture.

The former official has also claimed that more than 100 million people are living illegally in the United States. That figure is far higher even than the estimates offered by immigration restriction advocates. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 14 million immigrants without legal status were living in the country in 2023.

At the same time, the number of immigration arrests in the United States is rising. According to a source familiar with the statistics, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained about 51,000 people in August. That was the highest figure during Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

Mike Howell, a visiting fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation and president of the Oversight Project, considers Bovino’s criticism justified. In his view, the administration promised large-scale deportations but has not yet fully delivered on that promise.

The Donald Trump administration promised mass deportations but has not yet carried them out. So there will continue to be room for criticism until the administration begins implementing them on the scale it promised.

– Mike Howell

At the same time, current and former Department of Homeland Security employees believe Bovino is receiving too much attention. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports reducing immigration, said the high-profile operations in Minneapolis hurt the president and public support for deportations.

Bovino’s Resignation and Allegations of Misconduct

Bovino’s years of service with U.S. Customs and Border Protection ended early this year amid an internal investigation. Government documents show that investigators contacted him on March 2 over allegations of possible misconduct, including purportedly antisemitic remarks. Bovino denied that his comments were antisemitic.

He was separately accused of giving false testimony about events during an immigration operation in Chicago. Later that month, Bovino retired. The results of the investigation were not made public.

Bovino himself insists that he was forced out and that Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility was used to pressure him. He is convinced that he was removed before he could implement his concept of “full-spectrum immigration enforcement.”

Bovino also views the upcoming midterm elections as an opportunity to increase pressure on the administration and force it to return to a tougher course.

He avoids directly criticizing Donald Trump. However, Bovino says the president is surrounded by ineffective officials who are more concerned with the appearance of policy than with concrete results. He names White House border coordinator Tom Homan, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott among them.

If I hurt someone’s feelings – some spineless government bureaucrat – because I’m telling the truth and he can’t handle it, then he can go to hell.

– Greg Bovino

White House spokeswoman Lauren Beis said that more than three million immigrants without legal status had left the United States – either through deportation or voluntary departure. She also defended Tom Homan’s work.

The Department of Homeland Security, for its part, said that former employees who are dissatisfied with the country’s leadership have the right to criticize it. Markwayne Mullin dismissed Bovino’s accusations, saying that he had never met him and did not consider him important to his work.

A Book, His Own Whiskey, and a Possible Presidential Run

After resigning, Bovino returned to his native North Carolina but frequently spends time in eastern Tennessee. He is working on a book that he describes as an account of truth, leadership, and philosophy, and he speaks to young conservatives.

Whiskey producer Camden Ford said he began working with Bovino through Bovino’s sister. They are discussing a series of bottles dedicated to various operations that Bovino led over the past year. Ford suggested that the former official’s controversial reputation could help drive sales.

In August, Bovino spoke at an event organized by “Save Indiana’s Heritage.” Later that month, he was scheduled to meet with representatives of the New York Young Republicans Club.

Bovino also promotes his views outside the United States. In Portugal, he gave an interview to a French far-right publication in which he mentioned Nazi Germany’s General Erwin Rommel, as well as American figures George S. Patton and J. Edgar Hoover. In Romania, Bovino spoke at a conference and was photographed at the grave of Vlad the Impaler, whom he called a kind of “first border patrol agent” for the region.

In May, political activists created a website with a donation form and urged Bovino to run for president in 2028. He said he did not know about the initiative until it launched and had not received any of the money raised.

At the same time, Bovino acknowledged that he frequently hears calls for him to enter the presidential race. He described the prospect as very interesting and did not rule out running, leaving the question of his political future open.