U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory “Greg” Bovino, who has been at the center of intense criticism following a second shooting during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is expected to leave the city on Tuesday along with other agents, according to people familiar with the matter.
In a sign of President Donald Trump’s softer tone on the crackdown, U.S. leaders reduced the federal presence in Minneapolis and replaced Bovino with border czar Tom Homan.
The shift in tone comes after 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Preti was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer, leading to increased scrutiny of the crackdown and widespread protests against the presence of federal immigration agents in the state. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other lawmakers have also called for the withdrawal of ICE agents from the state.
Preti’s sister, Mikayla Preti, said in a statement Monday: “All Alex wanted was to help someone, no matter who he was. Even in his last moments on earth.”
“When will this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before enough is said?” the statement added.
Just a few weeks ago, Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman and mother of three, was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while she was behind the wheel of her car.
Who is Gregory Bovino?
Mr. Bovino has become the face of the immigration investigation and has drawn new accusations that Mr. Pretti had a gun and was planning a “massacre” of law enforcement officers, although video footage taken from multiple angles showed Mr. Pretti holding a cellphone in his hand and did not show him brandishing a weapon.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the hotel where Bovino is believed to be staying, blowing whistles, banging pots and at one point playing a trombone in a raucous demonstration aimed at disrupting federal agents inside. This destructive but non-violent method of protest is similar to the protests following Renee Good’s death in early January.
Bovino frequently appears at anti-ICE protests, often without his face covered like other operatives, and is easily identified by his distinctive long army-green overcoat, which has led to comparisons to the military-style attire of Nazi officers.
Border Patrol commanders also faced intense criticism from local officials, civil rights activists and Congressional Democrats for their leading role in the high-profile federal crackdown.
President Trump speaks by phone with Minnesota Governor Walz
Although relations between the two appeared to have thawed, Trump said he had a “very good meeting” with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and that the two “seemed to be on the same wavelength.”
Walz called the calls on social media platform X “productive” and called on the White House to launch an impartial investigation.
“The President must end this operation. Get thousands of violent, untrained police officers out of Minnesota. NOW,” he wrote in another post.
The US president also spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who he also said was a “very good phone interview.”
“Much progress is being made! Tom Homan will meet tomorrow to continue discussions,” President Trump posted on his social media platform Truthsocial.
Additional sources of information • AP