Senior Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino — the face of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities — is being reassigned from the northern metropolis, along with some of the agents he oversaw.
The announcement comes amid intense protests, violent clashes, and scrutiny following the fatal shootings of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents and amid broader federal enforcement efforts under Operation Metro Surge.
Bovino said the federal agents involved in the Alex Pretti shooting and related operations — including himself — were moved out of Minneapolis “for their safety” and to prevent doxxing or retaliation as protests and tensions escalated.
As Mediaite reports:
Anderson Cooper broke the news Monday afternoon, saying, “Sources tell CNN that top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis tomorrow,” before tossing to reporter Priscilla Alvarez.
“This really is a major shift in strategy here by the Trump administration,” Alvarez began. “Recall, Gregory Bovino has been a key player in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and became, in many ways, the public face of that crackdown across cities in the country. Most recently, of course, in Minneapolis.”
“We are now being told by sources that he is going to be departing Minneapolis with some of his Border Patrol agents tomorrow and going back to their respective sectors,” Alvarez said. “Now, we’re also told that part of this has been influenced by the frustrations within the administration over the handling and the public response of Saturday’s shooting.”
Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted at Bovino’s reassignment, saying, “Mr. Bovino is a wonderful man and he’s a great professional. He is very much going to lead Customs and Border Patrol throughout and across the country. Mr. [Tom] Homan will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis.”
Local leaders and civil rights groups blasted the federal sweep as aggressive and destabilizing — but supporters insist it’s about cracking down on crime. Bovino’s reassignment signals how tense things have become, with safety concerns rising as the response grows increasingly polarized by the day.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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