MINNEAPOLIS — Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave Minnesota tomorrow, three sources told CNN on Monday afternoon.
CNN cited an official who said Bovino’s departure was a “mutual decision.” According to CNN’s reporting, administration officials were “deeply frustrated” with Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handling of the aftermath of the shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer.
Shortly after Saturday’s deadly shooting, Bovino alleged that Pretti was planning to “massacre” federal agents.
The reported development comes following a shift in strategy by the Trump Administration on Monday after the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old Pretti by federal agents on Saturday. President Trump posted on social media that he would be sending Border Czar Tom Homan to manage the ICE operations in Minnesota. The president later posted that he and Gov. Tim Walz had spoken and were on a “similar wavelength” about the future of federal agents in the state.
CNN reported the president was “personally unhappy” with the way his administration was being portrayed, with officials also upset over Secretary Noem’s labeling of Pretti as a “domestic terrorist.” At a White House briefing Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that was not President Trump’s personal position.
Leavitt added that Homan will be the “main point of contact” for the operation in Minneapolis going forward.
Following the call with the president, Gov. Walz released a statement saying the president agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota, and “working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.”
On Monday, The Atlantic and ABC News reported that Bovino would be removed from his role as Border Patrol’s “commander at large.” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied the claim on X soon after.
“Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As @PressSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the President’s team and a great American,” McLaughlin said on X.