GRAPEVINE, Texas — Greg Bovino, the former Border Patrol commander-at-large, is writing a book on the mass deportation operation that ultimately cost him his job.
He told Secrets that it will be a chance to respond to criticism from the Left that he and his officers used heavy-handed methods.
“It is a chance to memorialize the events of the past year from Minnesota to Los Angeles, Chicago, and not forgetting Bakersfield,” he said. “It is looking out for the men and women in green.”
He offered no other details about the book, other than to say it would deliver the stories of the people at the sharp end of immigration policy, their hard work, and the sacrifices they made.
Bovino retired days before speaking with Secrets.
He had been tapped earlier this year by the Trump administration to head its Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota but was demoted after two protesters were shot dead by federal agents.
His muscular frame and tightly cropped hair, as well as a great coat that was compared to Nazi garb, made him a poster boy for the effort and a figure of hate for the Left.
Trump moved to soften the immigration push amid a public backlash.
Bovino spoke to Secrets on the sidelines of the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he had been a star turn on the main stage on Thursday.
He said he was not bitter about leaving the service and had been due to retire next year anyway.
“But I feel like I lost my tribe,” he said. “Those were my people.”
As well as the book, he plans to keep hitting the airwaves with calls for robust deportation operations.
“I will be annoying people like you,” he said with a smile.
His appearance a day earlier brought the house down.
He was brought onstage by influencer Benny Johnson.
“Can we get a massive round of applause for our Border Patrol and ICE agents, and Greg’s work as the chief of Border Patrol?” Johnson said as Bovino entered to a hero’s reception.
The crowd whooped and cheered.
“I’ve been retired 24 hours now,” he told the crowd of Trump supporters. “I left my tribe, folks. But I joined another tribe — and that is you, the conservative CPAC movement, America.
“Thanks for having me here today.”
As he talked to Secrets, passersby lined up for selfies. His trademark tight T-shirt was easily recognizable in a sea of suits and red ties.
“Keep doing what you do,” said one passerby.
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