Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino is retiring at the end of March after nearly three decades with the U.S. Border Patrol, stepping down following months of controversy tied to federal immigration operations in Minnesota.
Bovino confirmed his retirement in an interview with Breitbart on Monday, reflecting on his career and the agents he worked alongside.
“The greatest honor of my entire life was to work alongside Border Patrol agents on the border and in the interior of the United States in some of the most challenging conditions the agency has ever faced,” Bovino said.
He added, “Watching these agents out there giving it their all in some of the most dangerous of environments we have ever faced was humbling.”
CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez also reported Bovino’s retirement on Monday, confirming the longtime federal officer will leave the agency after nearly 30 years of service.
Bovino rose to national prominence during President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown after returning to the White House. As commander-at-large for the U.S. Border Patrol, Bovino oversaw high-profile immigration enforcement operations in major American cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans.
His leadership role expanded further in early 2026 when he helped oversee a major federal immigration operation in Minnesota known as “Operation Metro Surge,” working alongside now ex-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The effort brought thousands of federal agents to the Minneapolis area as part of the administration’s aggressive push to locate and deport undocumented immigrants.
However, the operation quickly became controversial after two fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in January. Renée Good, a Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by an ICE officer during an enforcement action on Jan. 7. Weeks later, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents during another operation in the city.
Following Pretti’s death, Bovino told reporters that the incident appeared to involve someone attempting to “massacre” federal immigration agents, a claim that later drew scrutiny as investigations continued and video evidence circulated publicly.
Amid the backlash and growing protests in Minneapolis, the Trump administration reshuffled leadership of the operation. White House Border Czar Tom Homan was dispatched to oversee immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota, effectively replacing Bovino and Noem in directing the operation.
His retirement marks the end of a 30-year career that made him one of the most visible and polarizing figures in federal immigration enforcement during Trump’s second administration.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
