Gregory Bovino, the commander at large of Customs and Border Protection, has been reassigned in the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This move signifies a noticeable change in the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement operations.
Bovino, a 55-year-old border official, will be returning to his former role as chief patrol agent in El Centro, California. He has been responsible for thousands of arrests in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, Bovino has not been relieved of his duties, with DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin referring to him as a critical member of the administration’s team.
The reassignment comes on the heels of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, on January 24. The incident coincides with President Donald Trump’s decision to send Tom Homan, the White House border czar, to Minneapolis to assume control of enforcement operations. Trump declared that Homan will report directly to him, effectively sidestepping Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Bovino in the command hierarchy.
Video footage from the incident in Minneapolis shows Pretti holding a cell phone at the time he was fatally shot by federal agents. Despite evidence of Pretti having a concealed carry permit and being legally armed, Bovino stated at a press conference that Pretti had intended to harm law enforcement. Agents shot Pretti multiple times after confiscating his firearm, despite video evidence showing he never reached for his weapon.
Trump seemed to distance his administration from Bovino’s characterization, stating that Pretti did not behave like a killer. Bovino’s remarks following the shooting, in which he labeled the Border Patrol agents as victims, also drew criticism.
The shooting of Pretti was the second fatal encounter involving federal agents in Minneapolis in recent times. Earlier, on January 7, an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, as she was driving her SUV away from a scene.
These two fatal incidents in Minneapolis have triggered widespread protests throughout Minnesota and have been met with bipartisan criticism. This week, Trump has spoken with both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
The Trump administration has begun to withdraw federal agents from Minneapolis in response to the increasing backlash. This withdrawal signifies a major shift in the administration’s strategy, which initially defended the aggressive enforcement tactics utilized in numerous cities.
Bovino has had a lengthy career with the CBP, serving in various leadership roles. His high-profile position as commander at large brought him into the national spotlight as the representative of Trump’s immigration crackdown.
During Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, Illinois, Bovino was responsible for more than 3,000 arrests in the city and its suburbs. His operations in Los Angeles, California, resulted in more than 5,000 arrests. His aggressive methods and confrontational public image made him a well-known figure in federal immigration enforcement.
Bovino’s enforcement strategies came under legal scrutiny during the operation in Chicago. In a significant ruling, a judge stated that Bovino had confessed to lying about being hit by a rock prior to using tear gas on protesters.
Known for his hands-on approach to crowd control, Bovino personally used tear gas on protesters during demonstrations against immigration enforcement operations. His frequent media appearances earned him both praise from immigration hardliners and criticism from civil liberties advocates.
The position of commander at large, a temporary assignment for Bovino, gave him extensive authority over enforcement operations nationwide. His return to El Centro signifies a significant change, but DHS officials insist he remains a critical part of the administration’s immigration enforcement leadership.
This change in the administration’s narrative is a departure from its initial strong defense of agent tactics following the deadly shootings.
The operations in Minneapolis have ignited debates over immigration enforcement methods and federal authority. Protests are ongoing throughout Minnesota, with demonstrators demanding accountability and changes in enforcement strategies. Federal authorities have clashed with state and local officials over coordination and oversight of immigration operations in their jurisdictions.
As commander at large, Bovino embodied the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement. His frequent media appearances ensured a constant public presence as federal agents conducted widespread operations in cities led by Democrats.
The appointment of Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis, under direct orders from Trump, indicates an acknowledgement by the administration of the need for a different approach in light of public outrage over the shootings. Bypassing the usual departmental hierarchy, Homan has been given direct authority to restructure operations in the city.
As Bovino reverts to his role in El Centro, questions linger about whether his aggressive model of enforcement will persist in other cities or if the backlash in Minneapolis will lead to wider changes in immigration enforcement tactics across the country. The two fatal shootings have heightened scrutiny of federal agents’ use of force and raised queries about oversight mechanisms for operations in local communities.
