MINNEAPOLIS — A senior U.S. Border Patrol commander and several agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The expected departure of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino comes after days of public outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. Bovino has been a leading figure in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement push in major U.S. cities.
President Donald Trump has sent border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The White House said Homan will report directly to the president and serve as the main federal official on the ground in Minneapolis.
Bovino has faced growing criticism from local officials and civil rights groups, especially after he publicly defended the shooting of Pretti and disputed details about what happened. His leadership of high-profile immigration operations has also sparked large protests in cities including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte.
Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke by phone Monday in a call both described as more cooperative than past exchanges. Walz said independent investigations into the recent shootings are needed, while Trump said his administration is focused on finding criminals already in state custody.
The developments came as a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking to temporarily halt the federal immigration enforcement surge. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez questioned the government’s motives and said the case raises serious constitutional concerns, though she did not issue an immediate ruling.
Minnesota officials say the situation on the ground has become dangerous and are asking the court to reduce the number of federal agents in the state. The case could affect other states facing similar enforcement operations.
