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Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol official who became the most visible figure of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement effort in Minneapolis, is expected to leave the city on Tuesday. His departure comes as the administration reorganizes leadership and reduces the federal law enforcement presence following a second deadly shooting involving officers.
According to a senior Trump administration official who spoke to Reuters, the 55-year-old Bovino will exit Minnesota along with several agents who were deployed under his command. Another source familiar with the situation said Bovino has lost his specially created role as “commander at large” and will return to his previous position as chief patrol agent in the El Centro sector along the US-Mexico border in California.
On Monday, Donald Trump announced that Tom Homan, described as his “border czar,” would be sent to Minnesota to directly oversee the operation known as Operation Metro Surge, reporting straight to the president.
Bovino’s exit reflects a notable change in approach by the White House following the killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Earlier the same day, Trump said he had spoken in a more conciliatory tone with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats whom he had earlier criticized over the unrest that preceded two fatal shootings of US citizens by federal agents.
The Atlantic was the first to report Bovino’s loss of authority, citing a Department of Homeland Security official and others familiar with the matter. The outlet also reported that Bovino is expected to retire in the near future.
DHS disputed claims that Bovino had been demoted after conservative commentator Nick Sortor posted online that the commander-at-large role had been eliminated. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin responded that Bovino had not been removed from his duties, referencing prior remarks by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who called him a valued member of the president’s team.
Despite news of his departure, protesters gathered outside a hotel where Bovino was believed to be staying, making noise with whistles, pots, and even a trombone, while police kept them away from the entrance.
After speaking with Trump, Mayor Frey said he planned to meet with Homan in Minneapolis on Tuesday, as some federal agents began withdrawing from the city.
Bovino has been a vocal and highly visible advocate of Trump’s deportation strategy, frequently appearing in stylized videos portraying enforcement actions in dramatic, action-movie fashion. Often the only agent shown without a face covering, Bovino became known for his forceful public image and appearances in tactical clothing, which drew criticism and comparisons to authoritarian policing.
Reports say Bovino will return to his former post in El Centro, where he previously led the Border Patrol sector. Through frequent conservative media appearances, aggressive enforcement tactics, and outspoken loyalty to Trump’s immigration agenda, he elevated his regional position into a national leadership role.
CNN reported that DHS has suspended Bovino’s access to his social media accounts.
Bovino repeatedly defended his agents after the fatal shootings of Renée Good earlier this month and Alex Pretti over the weekend, even as video evidence contradicted his public statements. In the case of Pretti, footage showed he was holding a phone rather than a weapon and had already been disarmed before being killed.
Last year, a federal judge reprimanded Bovino for making false statements to the court.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
