A video surfaced on Wednesday, February 26, 2026, showing Greg Bovino, a leader of the U.S. Border Patrol’s big-city immigration campaign, throwing a smoke canister at protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident occurred during a demonstration, and Bovino was recorded warning the crowd, “Gas is coming!” before deploying the canister, which released green smoke.
The video, which quickly circulated online, shows Bovino approaching a group of observers and protesters on a snowy street. According to reports, the demonstration was in support of Iran, occurring near the same time as protests near Baghdad’s Green Zone and amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East. The timing of the Minneapolis protest coincided with a period of increased global unrest, including Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and retaliatory attacks by Iran, as well as ongoing conflict in the region.
Bovino’s actions have drawn scrutiny, with some characterizing the incident as a humiliation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident, and Bovino has not publicly commented on the video. The Minneapolis Police Department has not confirmed whether an investigation has been launched.
The incident comes as the administration continues to navigate complex immigration policies and face criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Bovino has been a key figure in the administration’s efforts to address immigration challenges in major cities, and the video raises questions about the tactics employed by Border Patrol agents during public demonstrations. The administration has been facing increased pressure regarding its handling of the situation in the Middle East, with Iran’s UN envoy criticizing U.S. “hypocrisy” over recent attacks.
Oil prices have reportedly increased due to worries about a wider conflict in Iran, while U.S. Stocks initially experienced sharp losses before recovering. The UN Security Council recently convened a meeting on the situation, presided over by Melania Trump. The UN has condemned Iran’s attacks and called for a return to diplomacy. Israel’s UN ambassador has stated that they are targeting locations in Iran “without apology.”
As of March 3, 2026, the DHS has not announced any disciplinary action against Bovino, nor has it released a statement addressing the concerns raised by the video. A scheduled meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog is expected to address the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
