CBP Shuts Down Border Patrol Accounts, Losing 850K Followers

Trump Administration Shuts Down Border Patrol Social Media Accounts: A Tale of Defiance and Reclamation

The Trump administration took action to reclaim control of three social media accounts belonging to the Border Patrols El Centro sector in California. Retired Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino had renamed the Facebook, Instagram, and X pages to highlight his personal title and refused to hand them back, despite orders to do so. These accounts, with a combined following of 850,000, went dark mid-Thursday.

The move came after a months-long internal dispute. Bovino had changed the names in August 2025, despite orders to revert them and start fresh accounts for his wider duties. He had been leading agents from El Centro to cover protests over immigration enforcement in Los Angeles during July 2025.

Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee under then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, reportedly protected Bovino from disciplinary action. The El Centro team launched replacement accounts in early September 2025, but they have only gained 11,000 followers so far, resulting in a significant drop in reach for sharing sector updates with the public.

Bovino was reassigned from a high-profile gig in Minneapolis in January 2025 after two fatal shootings involving federal officers. He then returned to California and retired in late March 2025. In his final weeks, he even did a New York Times interview promoting his multi-city work.

With Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin starting his first full day on the job, the department is reclaiming its platforms as the old leadership wraps up. The original accounts now sit empty, with no content left.

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