Bovino Leaves Minneapolis After Deadly Shooting

Leadership changes follow public outrage and political pressure after a fatal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and some federal agents are expected to leave Minneapolis soon, according to multiple U.S. officials and local media reports, after a controversial fatal shooting during a federal immigration enforcement operation ignited public outcry and political pressure.

The move comes amid hot debate over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge, which has seen thousands of federal officers deployed to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The decision reflects a notable adjustment by the administration after widespread protests, legal challenges and criticism from local elected officials.

The latest escalation followed the weekend shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and Minneapolis resident, by Border Patrol agents during an immigration operation. Pretti’s death was the second such incident in the city in January involving federal law enforcement officers and drew intense scrutiny from civil rights advocates, local officials and lawmakers.

In response to the fatal shooting and rising tensions, sources familiar with the situation told CBS News that Bovino along with some of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis imminently and be replaced in local leadership by other federal officials.

President Donald Trump has said he is sending his designated border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state. White House press officials have indicated that Homan will serve as the primary point of contact on the ground, overseeing federal immigration enforcement efforts in the region.

The departure of Bovino from Minneapolis represents a shift in the administration’s approach after political backlash and calls from city and state elected leaders to scale back the enforcement surge. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz both engaged in talks with Trump about reducing the federal footprint following the Pretti shooting.

Despite reports that Bovino may return to his former role in California’s El Centro Sector, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has declined to confirm he has been removed from his broader position, stating that he remains part of the agency and its leadership structure.

The incidents in Minneapolis have added to a broader national debate on immigration policing and the use of force by federal agents. Local civil rights groups and some lawmakers have called for independent investigations into the shootings, while others have criticized DHS for its handling of public information in the aftermath.

Legal challenges aimed at halting parts of the immigration enforcement operation remain active, and Minnesota officials are pushing for greater oversight and accountability at both state and federal levels.

As Bovino and some agents prepare to depart, the changes reflect ongoing political, legal and community pressures surrounding federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis — a city already at the center of national attention following multiple deadly encounters between residents and federal officers.