Gregory Bovino: il capo della US Border Patrol e il cappotto da guerra nazista | Sky TG24

Gregory Bovino: il capo della US Border Patrol e il cappotto da guerra nazista | Sky TG24

January 25, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom News

Gregory Bovino, a US Border Patrol agent with Calabrian origins, has become a prominent figure in recent immigration enforcement actions across the United States. Born in 1970, Bovino has been with the US Border Patrol since 1996. Images of him, taken in Minneapolis – a current focal point in the pursuit of deportations – wearing a distinctive overcoat have circulated globally, drawing comparisons to Nazi imagery in The New York Times.

Who is Gregory Bovino?

Bovino grew up in North Carolina, the grandson of Italian immigrants who arrived in the US in 1909 and gained citizenship in 1927. His career aspiration was sparked by the 1982 film The Border, featuring Jack Nicholson as an immigration agent. He joined the US Border Patrol in 1996, initially stationed in El Paso, Texas.

Did You Know? Bovino’s name began to gain recognition among right-leaning Republican supporters around 2020, coinciding with the use of rock music in US Border Patrol promotional videos.

Return to the Sender

Prior to a potential second term for Donald Trump, Bovino led “Operation Return to the Sender,” a raid targeting alleged immigrants in Kern County, California. Of the 78 Peruvian individuals arrested, only one was found to have a prior criminal record.

The Overcoat

The overcoat worn by Bovino is known as a “great coat.” Historically worn by leaders on both sides of World War II, including General Douglas MacArthur, its style is closely associated with the uniforms of the German military under Adolf Hitler. The New York Times described the coat as “a sign of militarization, but also of tyranny.”

Historian Harold James noted that the impact of the coat isn’t necessarily the garment itself, but rather the context in which Bovino wears it. According to James, wearing it while confronting crowds, particularly with armed supporters, and combined with a shaved head and dark clothing, evokes “an unmistakable aura of a 1930s dictator.”

Bovino has frequently worn the coat during ICE raids in Los Angeles and Chicago, documented in a video released by the Department of Homeland Security. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “If you think the references to fascism and authoritarianism are a hyperbole, just look at him.”

Expert Insight: The controversy surrounding Bovino’s attire highlights the sensitivity surrounding immigration enforcement and the potential for visual symbolism to evoke strong historical associations, regardless of intent.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the coat, stating it is part of the Border Patrol’s winter uniform and has been worn by Bovino since 1999. McLaughlin argued that comparisons to the Nazi regime are “dangerous” and may contribute to an increase in assaults against law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Return to the Sender?

Operation Return to the Sender was a raid led by Gregory Bovino targeting alleged immigrants in Kern County, California, prior to a potential second term for Donald Trump.

What did The New York Times say about Bovino’s coat?

The New York Times described Bovino’s overcoat as “the symbol of the conflict” and a sign of militarization and tyranny, drawing comparisons to the uniforms worn by the German military during World War II.

How long has Bovino been with the US Border Patrol?

Gregory Bovino has been with the US Border Patrol since 1996, having joined the agency after being inspired by the film The Border.

As immigration enforcement continues to be a contentious issue, will the symbolism associated with Bovino’s attire further fuel debate and scrutiny of border security practices?