Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino criticized the Department of Homeland Security‘s response to the outbreak of protests at New Jersey‘s Delaney Hall immigration detention center on Thursday.
People have gathered outside Delaney Hall since last week, protesting the conditions inside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark as detainees raise alarm bells with a hunger strike about what they call the facility’s “terrible and inhumane” conditions.
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The protests have turned violent, as anti-ICE protesters clash with law enforcement while the situation gains increasing media attention. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted on social media that “approximately 100 anti-ICE rioters” flooded the protests and “assaulted and threw objects at law enforcement” on Wednesday night. As tensions escalate, Bovino, who was demoted in early 2026 after immigration enforcement personnel killed two American citizens in Minneapolis under his tenure, called for a more violent crackdown.
“I don’t know who’s holding these guys back, but basic riot control starts with gas,” Bovino posted on social media. “This should’ve been over in 15 minutes. We’re now on day three. Secretary Mullin’s inaction is putting his own agents, the facility, and the detained aliens at risk. Hesitation isn’t compassion — it’s dangerous weakness.”
Bovino was known as a staunch hard-liner on immigration and border policies, overseeing the crackdown in Minnesota that brought backlash for the Trump administration and ultimately contributed to the shake-up at the DHS, transitioning to Mullin from former Secretary Kristi Noem. In late January, President Donald Trump called Bovino “a pretty out-there kind of a guy,” distancing himself from the former Border Patrol official.
Bovino followed up his criticism of Mullin’s handling of the protests with an image of him hopping on a plane to Newark.
“@SenMullin and the rest of them have been trying to handle these riots and… well, let’s just say it’s not going great,” Bovino wrote. “For those of you in the comments section, give a vote. Should I just handle this myself? Those agents’ lives are at stake due to this inaction. @SusieWiles.”
Mullin said in a Thursday statement that local police in the Garden State refused to help DHS officers tame the escalating riots outside the detention facility.
“Throughout the night, six rioters were arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers,” Mullin posted on social media. “Local police refused to help our officers. Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony. Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Law and order will prevail.”
Two other protesters were separately arrested on charges of assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers on Tuesday evening.
FACT CHECK: DELANEY HALL, THE ICE DETENTION CENTER IN NEW JERSEY UNDER DEMOCRATS’ MICROSCOPE
The DHS has not responded to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment on Bovino’s statements.
The escalating tensions outside the facility and reported deteriorating conditions inside have caught the eyes of New Jersey Democrats. Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) was pepper-sprayed by ICE officers outside the facility on Monday, and Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) was denied access to the facility the same day.
