Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin delivered a sharp rebuke of former U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino during a recent event, dismissing him as irrelevant and unknown. The exchange occurred at a ceremony honoring officers who responded to a 2025 shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
When a reporter began asking about Bovino, Mullin interrupted before the question was complete. "I never met the guy. No, he's irrelevant to me. I don't know who he is. What else, guys?" Mullin stated, according to video footage from the event. The exact nature of the reporter's inquiry remains unclear from the recordings.
Bovino quickly responded on Monday by posting a clip from the television series "Breaking Bad" on X, with the caption: "When you're ready to fulfill @POTUS' promise of mass deportations, let's talk @SecMullinDHS."
Background of the Dispute
Since President Donald Trump took steps earlier this year to reorganize immigration operations, including removing Bovino from his position, the former commander had maintained a relatively low profile. However, on Saturday, Bovino posted a video of himself being interviewed at the far-right Remigration Summit in Porto, Portugal, accompanied by text criticizing White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
"Trump's team says immigration is his top issue according to the polls. Voters trust him on the border more than anyone. So why is @SusieWiles47 pushing to dial it back and water down mass deportations? You don't win by running away from your strongest issue. Mass deportations are the solution to perpetual victory!" Bovino wrote.
In the same video, Bovino also called out Mullin directly, taking jabs at the lawmaker's previous profession. "Mullin's a great guy, great plumber, no doubt about that; he could probably fix a leaky faucet," Bovino said. "But a hundred million illegal aliens is not a leaky faucet."
