Greg Bovino Alleges Trump Officials Pulled His Security Detail After He Became a DHS Critic, Saying They 'Want Him Dead'

Greg Bovino, a retired US Border Patrol chief patrol agent, has alleged his federal security detail was withdrawn after he left the agency to silence him. He also said he believes administration officials want him killed, while explicitly saying he does not believe Donald Trump is involved.

Bovino made the allegations during an interview with Tucker Carlson published on 27 August 2026. He said his security detail was withdrawn when he left Border Patrol and claimed he was among the highest-threat individuals in the Department of Homeland Security because of death threats against him.

Bovino alleged that the decision was intended to silence him and said he believed officials wanted him killed. The allegations have not been independently substantiated.

The White House, however, did respond to the claims. A White House spokesperson told Mediaite that Bovino's allegation was 'absurd' and defended Border Czar Tom Homan as an 'American patriot and career law enforcement officer.'

From Border Patrol Commander to Public Critic

Bovino is a retired US Border Patrol chief patrol agent and former commander at large who became one of the most prominent public faces of the Trump administration's immigration-enforcement operations. He led major enforcement operations in several US cities, including Minneapolis, before retiring from Border Patrol in March 2026.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference that month, Bovino said he had retired after nearly three decades with the agency. Since leaving government, Bovino has continued to criticise the Trump administration's immigration-enforcement strategy.

Bovino: Security Detail Withdrawn After Leaving Agency

During the Carlson interview, Bovino said his security detail was pulled when he left Border Patrol. He described himself as one of the highest, if not the highest, security threats within DHS because of death threats he said he had received.

Bovino said Border Patrol agents assigned to protect him initially refused to leave his home, and he ultimately ordered them to do so because he was no longer with the agency. He alleged the decision was intended to silence him, although available evidence does not independently establish that his criticism of the administration caused the withdrawal.

Bovino specifically identified Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott as the official who removed his security detail, saying the decision was made with Homan present. Scott and Homan have not individually responded to the claim.

The 'Want Him Dead' Claim and Trump's Exclusion

Bovino made a more serious allegation when Carlson asked whether he believed the administration wanted him killed. Bovino answered that he did, saying he was involved in a 'running battle' whenever he went out and that he believed officials wanted him killed.

When Carlson asked whether he meant the administration, Bovino answered yes. However, Bovino distinguished President Donald Trump from other administration officials, saying: 'I don't think Trump would,' referring to the possibility that Trump wanted him killed.

He instead directed his accusation towards what he called the administration's 'gate guards'. Carlson then asked whether Bovino believed Homan wanted him dead.

Bovino did not directly answer whether he believed Homan wanted him killed, instead identifying Scott as the official who removed his detail and noting that Homan was present at the time. The claim has not been independently verified and Bovino did not provide specific evidence to support it.

White House Rejects Allegations as 'Absurd'

The White House rejected Bovino's allegation. A White House spokesperson told Mediaite that the claim was 'absurd' and defended Homan, describing him as an 'American patriot and career law enforcement officer with decades of experience' in law enforcement and immigration enforcement.

This response is significant because the original claim was not left without an official rebuttal. The White House has directly disputed the allegation, although the available response does not provide details about the circumstances surrounding Bovino's security detail.

Why Bovino's Claims Land in a Factional Immigration Battle

Bovino's accusations come amid broader tensions among immigration hardliners over the Trump administration's enforcement strategy. Axios reported on 10 August that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin was facing backlash from MAGA-aligned immigration hardliners who considered parts of his approach too lenient.

The dispute included criticism over Mullin's choice of an ICE leadership nominee and his positions on immigration policy. Bovino has separately criticised the administration for what he views as an insufficiently aggressive approach to mass deportation.

What the Available Evidence Establishes

Bovino has alleged that his federal security detail was withdrawn when he left Border Patrol and claimed the decision was intended to silence him.

He also said he believes administration officials want him killed.

Bovino specifically implicated CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott in the removal of his security detail and said Homan was present.

He did not accuse Trump personally of wanting him dead, explicitly saying: 'I don't think Trump would.'

The allegations remain unverified. The White House has rejected them as 'absurd' and defended Homan.