BERLIN/WASHINGTON D.C. – The visual presentation of high-profile US immigration enforcement operations has become a point of intense international scrutiny after a coat worn by senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino prompted comparisons to historical fascist aesthetics in prominent German media outlets.
Bovino, a figure central to recent aggressive immigration enforcement actions across the United States, has been consistently visible wearing a brass-buttoned, calf-length olive green greatcoat—a garment distinct from the standard issue fatigues and body armor worn by many federal agents accompanying him. This sartorial choice, combined with a close-shorn haircut, has triggered commentary across the Atlantic regarding the optics of American authority.
The German news magazine Der Spiegel suggested in a video feature that Bovino’s presentation recalled that of an officer from the Nazi era. Arno Frank, a contributor to the publication, argued that as the “authoritarian intervention” in US immigration policy solidifies, it is naturally seeking a “distinctive aesthetic.” Frank elaborated that Bovino’s look was a deliberate choice, stating, “No wonder, then, that figures like Bovino are resorting to tried-and-tested models,” drawing a parallel between Bovino standing out from his team and an “elegant SS officer” contrasting with the “rowdy SA mob.”
Similarly, the Süddeutsche Zeitung noted that while such coats have historical precedents globally, Bovino’s complete ensemble—including the haircut and accessories like a Sam Browne belt—completed what they termed the “Nazi look.”
Administration officials maintain that the garment is standard issue. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), previously dismissed the controversy as “manufactured outrage” and stated the coat was part of a “standard-issue border patrol winter dress uniform.” However, reports have noted that the coat was absent from a 2025 document detailing official Border Patrol uniform standards.
Bovino himself has denied any intentional political or historical signaling, claiming long-term ownership of the coat. Beyond Germany, the issue has gained traction in US political discourse, with critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, using the imagery to underscore broader concerns about authoritarian drift in federal enforcement tactics.
This report synthesizes observations from German media outlets regarding the visual rhetoric employed in US federal operations. Source attribution is based on reporting by The Guardian.