President Donald Trump announced Monday that Greg Bovino — the face of the aggressive immigration crackdown that has left Minneapolis in turmoil — was being yanked out of the city.
Border Patrol Commander Bovino was expected to leave the city Tuesday, as the Trump administration's Border Czar Tom Homan moves in an effort to quell tensions following the hugely controversial deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin disputed that Bovino was being punished for his handling of Minneapolis, stating on X Monday: "Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Greg Bovino is a key part of the President's team and a great American."
And MAGA-aligned social media accounts were quick to back the commander.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty posted: "BORDER COMMANDER GREG BOVINO IS A HERO!" The MAGA Voice account, with 1.4 million followers, wrote: "I STRONGLY SUPPORT GREG BOVINO."
Another MAGA account with 1.6 million followers replied: "Makes 2 of us."
The Trump administration faces mounting pressure following Pretti's death on Saturday. Pretti, an intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot by a federal immigration agent during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. This marks the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in the city this month, following the January 7 death of Good, who was killed by an ICE agent.
Bovino told CNN that Pretti "injected himself into a law enforcement action" and previously stated that Pretti intended to "massacre law enforcement" agents and cause "maximum damage." However, eyewitnesses and Pretti's family have challenged this account. Pretti was filming ICE officers when he was shot, and Homeland Security officials claimed he possessed a firearm and resisted disarmament attempts.
The situation has created divisions within Republican ranks. Some Republicans are calling for investigations into Pretti's death, while high-profile figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene have spoken out against the shooting. Trump must navigate balancing pressure from GOP politicians with concerns about alienating his MAGA base.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated: "Mr. Bovino is a wonderful man and he's a great professional. He is very much going to continue CBP throughout and across the country. Mr. Homan will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis."
Bovino responded to scrutiny by stating: "This is only the latest attack on law enforcement. Across the country, the men and women of DHS have been attacked, shot at."
Democratic National Committee Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin called for broader accountability: "Greg Bovino's firing should be the first, not the last. An American citizen was murdered this weekend at the hands of federal agents. Trump and Vance should immediately fire Noem, Stephen Miller, and Corey Lewandowski—or else they are sending a clear message to voters that getting murdered for exercising your constitutional rights is acceptable in Trump's America."
