Greg Bovino Leaving Minnesota: Border Patrol Commander Steps Down After Fatal Shooting

Jan 27
2 min read

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is leaving Minnesota after leading Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement operation that resulted in two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in less than three weeks. The departure comes as Border Czar Tom Homan arrives to take direct control of federal immigration operations in the state.

Who is Greg Bovino?

Gregory Bovino serves as Border Patrol's Chief Operations Agent-at-Large, a position that oversees nationwide immigration enforcement operations. Before his current role, he led the El Centro Sector in Southern California, managing 70 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Since December, Bovino became the public face of Operation Metro Surge, conducting high-visibility immigration raids in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte.

The Departure from Minneapolis

Multiple federal sources confirmed that Bovino and an unspecified number of Border Patrol agents will leave Minnesota as early as Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security clarified that Bovino has not been fired or relieved of his duties, but will return to his previous post at the El Centro Sector in California. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed speaking directly with President Trump, who agreed that "the present situation cannot continue."

What Sparked the Controversy?

The tipping point came Saturday when Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Pretti, a lawful gun owner with no criminal record, was filming federal officers during an operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially claimed Pretti wanted to "inflict maximum damage" and "kill law enforcement," but videos appear to show an agent removing a gun from Pretti's holster before the fatal shots. This marked the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minnesota this month, following the death of Renee Good on January 7.

Tom Homan Takes Control

President Trump announced Monday that Border Czar Tom Homan will take over Minnesota operations and report directly to him. Trump described Homan as "tough, but fair" and confirmed he will meet with both Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey.

The White House emphasized that Bovino will continue leading Border Patrol operations nationwide, just not from Minnesota. The Atlantic reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem may also be at risk of losing her position over the handling of these incidents.

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