The Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago in September, and… it’s been bad. In addition to being nothing more than Trump’s vindictive assault on the state’s sanctuary policies, it’s been accused of giving Nazi vibes.Or maybe it’s been accused of giving Nazi vibes because the guy in charge, Gregory Bovino, is being accused of dressing like one of Adolf Hitler’s SS officers.
The Border Patrol chief has quickly become one of the Trump administration’s top villains in his ongoing campaign to rid this country of whoever he wants. And disturbingly, Bovino is seemingly trying to dress the part: he wears his protective gear everywhere, his Twitter profile shows him proudly displaying an assault rifle, and when he spoke to CNN earlier this month, he showed up… dressed to the neins. That is, the internet was quick to point out that his long, knee-length trench with stars on the sleeves was very similar to those worn by SS officers. Of course, nowadays, working at the DHS doesn’t requireliteracy skills as much as it requires having an…interesting wardrobe…but this is getting to be a little too on the nose.
On Tuesday, DHS tweeted a dizzying video of Bovino with the caption, “We REFUSE to back down from our mission to make America safe,” which included images of Bovino in his trench. Set to what the Daily Beast aptly described as a “European gabber-style version of Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida,’” the clip also features Bovino making various, questionable hand gestures while fully decked out in a hunter green uniform. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) tweeted in response, “If you think the calls of fascism and authoritarianism are hyperbole pause and watch this video. They aren’t even trying to hide who they are.”
This is Greg Bovino, US Border Patrol Commander at Large. If not Nazi, why Nazi shaped? pic.twitter.com/yK87DVNUgM
The department posted the clip because Bovino was ordered to appear in court before U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on Tuesday, after he was recently caught on camera pelting a can of tear gas at protesters. Judge Ellis basically gave Bovino a curfew, ruling that he now has to appear in her courtroom every day at 6 p.m. to explain what the fuck is happening with border control in Chicago. Before he could comply on Wednesday, though, an appeals court blocked the order.
Under Bovino’s watch, Chicago’s immigration crackdown has netted more than 1,800 arrests and countless complaints of excessive force. In one account, a woman alleged one of Bovino’s goons told her, “Do something, bitch,” before shooting her five times. (The government alleges she drove at them before one opened fire.) In another court complaint, filed Sunday, one veteran alleges another ICE officer pointed a gun at his face and said, “Bang, bang. You’re dead, liberal.”
If you think the calls of fascism and authoritarianism are hyperbole pause and watch this video.
On Tuesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to ask that they pause their insane operations throughout Halloween weekend. “No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood,” he wrote. “Please let children be children for one holiday, free from intimidation and fear.” Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he addressed Bovino specifically: “Your operation has sown fear and division and chaos among law-abiding residents in our communities. If you are unwilling to cease operations and leave our city, can we at least agree that our children should not be victims, especially on Halloween?”
Bovino has worked in Border Patrol for 29 years. In 2023, he was “relieved of command” in California —partly due to a questionable social media presence—and “encouraged to retire,” according to the Associated Press. But this year, Trump reignited his career and assigned him to lead immigration enforcement in Los Angeles in June before putting him in charge of Chicago in September.
In 2020, while serving as the chief border officer in El Centro, California, Bovino posted a fake video depicting a migrant sneaking into the country and murdering the first person he sees. As the head of CBP New Orleans in 2022, he allegedly closed a vacant government role that two African American employees were top contenders for, only to hire one of his white friends. Over the weekend, Bovino’s agents in Chicago threw tear gas canisters into a neighborhood hosting a children’s Halloween parade.
Last week, Bovino told CBS News that his agents’ tactics in Chicago have been “exemplary.” “If someone strays into a pepper ball, then that’s on them,” he said. “Don’t protest, and don’t trespass.” Take note, parents! Keep your kids safe from any hazardous Halloween candy this weekend—and make sure they don’t accidentally walk into a fascist ICE attack.
