By HAN News Desk
MINNEAPOLIS — A senior U.S. Border Patrol official who served as the public face of federal immigration operations in Minneapolis has been removed from his leadership role amid mounting political pressure following a fatal shooting during a large-scale enforcement operation, according to officials and media reports. Gregory Bovino, who held the position of Commander-at-Large for U.S. Border Patrol, was stripped of his command responsibilities after the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old paramedic who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents during Operation Metro Surge. The shooting sparked widespread protests in Minneapolis and drew sharp criticism from local leaders, civil rights groups, and members of Congress, intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in urban areas.
Bovino is expected to return to his previous post in El Centro, California, where he may soon retire, according to sources familiar with the matter. While federal authorities have not publicly described the move as a dismissal, multiple sources said he no longer holds a leadership role in Minnesota operations. The reassignment comes as the White House reorganizes federal oversight of immigration enforcement in the region. President Donald Trump has named Tom Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to oversee operations in Minnesota, effectively transferring authority away from Bovino.
The leadership change follows weeks of protests and political backlash over the handling of Operation Metro Surge and the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death. Demonstrators have called for accountability, transparency, and limits on federal law enforcement activity in local communities. Several investigations are underway to determine whether the use of force was justified and whether federal agents followed established protocols. Civil rights advocates and local officials have also questioned the coordination between federal agents and local authorities, as well as the broader impact of aggressive immigration enforcement in densely populated areas. Federal agencies have not released detailed findings related to the shooting, and it remains unclear whether additional disciplinary actions will follow. Officials said reviews of both the operation and command decisions are ongoing. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on Bovino’s reassignment, citing personnel matters.
