Border Patrol Chief Removed After Minnesota Deaths

Minneapolis – The commander of the Border Patrol in charge of border operations, Gregory Bovino, is being removed from Minnesota following the deaths of two civilians at the hands of federal agents. The decision, confirmed by two officials speaking on condition of anonymity, comes as tensions escalate between federal law enforcement and protesters.

Federal Response Under Scrutiny After Fatal Shootings

The move follows the deaths of a nurse and a poet, sparking outrage and prompting a reshuffling of federal personnel in the state.

• The Trump administration has decided to remove Bovino and several other Border Patrol members from Minnesota.
• Tom Homan, described as the president’s border ‘czar,’ will be sent to Minneapolis to oversee immigration operations.
• More than 1,000 Customs and Border Protection officers and 2,000 ICE agents were deployed to the city as of the weekend.
• The departures follow the deaths of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, and Renée Good, a mother of three.

Bovino’s removal was announced shortly after President Trump confirmed he would send Tom Homan to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to address the rising tensions. The deaths of Alex Pretti on Saturday and Renée Good on January 7 have fueled protests and scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics.

As of the weekend, over 1,000 officers and agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and more than 2,000 ICE members were deployed in Minneapolis. These deployments occurred in the wake of riots sparked by the shootings.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was killed by federal ICE agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. Renée Good, a poet and mother of three, died January 7 as a result of a shooting involving an immigration agent. Bovino, just two days prior, made the unsubstantiated claim that Pretti had planned a “massacre” of law enforcement agents and will return to his position as head of the Border Patrol in El Centro, California.

What exactly is ICE’s role in Minneapolis? U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the United States. Their presence in Minneapolis was significantly increased following the recent incidents, leading to heightened tensions with local residents and protesters.

President Trump announced his decision to send Homan to Minnesota via his account on Truth Social on Monday. “He hasn’t been involved in that area, but he knows and likes a lot of people there,” Trump stated. “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”

White House officials have confirmed that Homan will assume leadership of immigration operations within the state.