Gregory Bovino has been reassigned from his position as commander at large of Customs and Border Protection. This follows two fatal shootings in Minneapolis, Minnesota by federal agents, resulting in a significant change in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy.
The 55-year-old border official resumes his former role as chief patrol agent in El Centro, California. Bovino previously supervised thousands of arrests in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. Despite this shift, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Monday that Bovino still holds official duties, with DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin acknowledging his critical role in the administration.
This change in leadership follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24. This incident coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement that Tom Homan, the White House border czar, was being sent to Minneapolis to lead enforcement operations. Trump stated Homan will report directly to him, effectively sidestepping Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Bovino.
Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was fatally shot by federal agents during a confrontation in Minneapolis. Video footage revealed Pretti was holding a cell phone. Despite Pretti having a concealed carry permit and being lawfully armed, Bovino argued at a press conference that Pretti intended to harm law enforcement. Agents shot Pretti multiple times after confiscating his gun. Video evidence shows that Pretti never reached for his weapon.
Trump appeared to distance his administration from Bovino’s characterization of Pretti, stating that Pretti did not behave like a killer.
Bovino faced scrutiny for his comments after the shooting, in which he referred to the Border Patrol agents as victims.
The shooting of Pretti was the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks. On January 7, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE officer as she drove her SUV away from the scene.
The shootings spurred widespread protests across Minnesota and attracted bipartisan criticism. This week, Trump reached out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
In response to the growing backlash, federal agents have begun withdrawing from Minneapolis. This marks a significant shift in strategy for an administration that initially defended the aggressive enforcement tactics used in many cities.
Bovino has served with the CBP for several decades in different leadership roles. His high-profile role as commander at large increased his national visibility as the representative of Trump’s immigration crackdown.
During Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, Bovino supervised over 3,000 arrests in the city and surrounding suburbs. His operations in Los Angeles resulted in over 5,000 arrests. His assertive tactics and confrontational public persona made him a well-known figure in federal immigration enforcement.
Bovino’s enforcement strategies faced judicial review during the Chicago operation. Notably, a judge stated that Bovino admitted he lied about being hit with a rock before deploying tear gas against protesters.
Bovino himself deployed tear gas at protesters during demonstrations against immigration enforcement operations. His hands-on approach to crowd control and frequent media appearances made him a divisive figure, praised by immigration hardliners and criticized by civil liberties advocates.
The role of commander at large was a temporary assignment giving Bovino extensive authority to lead enforcement operations nationwide. His reassignment to El Centro signifies a marked shift, although DHS officials maintain he remains part of the administration’s immigration enforcement leadership.
The administration’s changing narrative indicates a departure from its initial vigorous defense of agent tactics following the fatal shootings.
The operations in Minneapolis have ignited debates about immigration enforcement methods and federal authority. Protests continue across Minnesota, with demonstrators demanding accountability and changes to enforcement tactics. State and local officials have clashed with federal authorities over the coordination and oversight of immigration operations within their jurisdictions.
Bovino’s term as commander at large highlighted the administration’s forceful approach to immigration enforcement. His media appearances kept him in the public spotlight as federal agents carried out extensive operations in Democratic-led cities.
The leadership transition in Minneapolis, with Homan assuming direct control under Trump’s orders, implies the administration acknowledges the necessity for a different approach in response to public outrage over the shootings. Homan’s appointment bypasses regular department hierarchies, granting him direct authority to restructure operations in the city.
Now that Bovino has returned to El Centro, questions linger about whether his aggressive enforcement style will persist in other cities or if the Minneapolis backlash will trigger wider changes in immigration enforcement tactics across the nation. The fatal shootings have heightened scrutiny over federal agents’ use of force and raised questions about oversight mechanisms for local operations.
