President Donald Trump has initiated a significant leadership shake-up in his administration’s immigration enforcement strategy by removing Gregory Bovino from his role as “commander-at-large” of the U.S. Border Patrol.
This decision follows a period of intense public outcry and violent clashes in Minneapolis after federal agents were involved in the fatal shootings of two American citizens within a three-week span.
Bovino, a high-profile figure who had been the visible lead of the administration’s aggressive mass deportation campaign, is expected to depart Minnesota by Tuesday to return to a previous post in El Centro, California, amid reports that he may soon retire.
The Killing of Alex Pretti and the Fall of a Narrative
The primary catalyst for this shift was the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, who was shot by federal agents on Saturday.
While senior administration officials initially characterized Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and an “assassin,” video evidence quickly surfaced showing that Pretti was unarmed and posed no threat at the time he was killed.
Bovino’s public statements blaming Pretti for his own death sparked widespread condemnation, particularly after it was revealed that Pretti was a law-abiding citizen and a legal gun owner.
The collapsing narrative reportedly frustrated President Trump, leading to a pivot in strategy just 48 hours after the shooting.
A Strategic Pivot and the Rise of Tom Homan
In an effort to stabilize the situation and address growing political liabilities, President Trump has appointed “border tsar” Tom Homan to take direct control of operations in Minnesota.
Unlike Bovino, who reported directly to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and favored highly visible street sweeps, Homan is expected to implement a more targeted approach focusing on individuals with criminal histories.
This move effectively bypasses the previous chain of command and signals a temporary scale-back of the federal presence in Minneapolis. Trump has also struck a more conciliatory tone in communications with local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz, suggesting a shift away from the hostile tactics that have defined the surge so far.
Mounting Pressure and Bipartisan Scrutiny
The administration is facing unprecedented pressure from both sides of the aisle and various advocacy groups following the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, a mother of three who was also killed by federal agents earlier in the month.
Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Susan Collins have called for a joint federal and state investigation, while gun rights advocates, including the NRA, have criticized the administration for demonizing a lawful gun owner.
This convergence of criticism has placed the administration’s broader immigration agenda at risk, forcing a review of the training and discipline of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to major American cities.