1. Border Patrol Minnesota: Commander Bovino Ousted After Fatal Shooting Controversy
Border Patrol Minnesota operations are undergoing a dramatic leadership shakeup following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti and mounting evidence that Commander Gregory Bovino misled investigators. The 37-year-old’s death on January 22 sparked citywide protests and forced President Trump to intervene personally, removing Bovino and deploying border czar Tom Homan to take direct control.
MINNEAPOLIS – January 27, 2026 – Federal sources confirmed Tuesday that Bovino departed Minneapolis and has been relieved of command after leading the controversial Operation Metro Surge. The move comes just days after bystander video contradicted Bovino’s claim that Pretti posed a threat to federal agents, and weeks after a federal judge called Bovino “not credible” in a separate case.
2. The Role of Us Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino in Recent Events
President Donald Trump made the decision Monday to remove Bovino from Border Patrol Minnesota operations and deploy his border czar, Tom Homan, to personally oversee all immigration enforcement in the state. The announcement followed tense phone calls with both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who had demanded an end to Operation Metro Surge.
“I’m sending Tom Homan to Minnesota,” Trump stated. “He’ll be managing the ICE operations there, working directly with me on what’s happening in that state.”
Homan, who oversaw record deportations under President Obama, will take command of over 3,000 federal agents currently deployed in Minnesota—approximately 1,000 Border Patrol officers and 2,000 ICE agents. Some Border Patrol personnel have already begun leaving the state, though exact numbers remain undisclosed.
3. The Alex Pretti Shooting: Video Contradicts Official Account
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti near 26th and Nicollet became the breaking point for Bovino’s leadership. Border Patrol Minnesota agents shot the 37-year-old during an immigration operation, with Bovino initially claiming Pretti “approached” officers with intent to “massacre law enforcement.”
However, bystander video told a different story. The footage undermined federal claims about the encounter, and use-of-force experts reviewing the evidence found no support for Bovino’s dramatic characterization of events. The contradiction between Bovino’s statements and visual evidence fueled public outrage and intensified calls for accountability.
Pretti’s death marked the third fatal shooting by federal agents in Minnesota within three weeks:
- January 7: Renee Good was killed during an immigration operation
- January 14: An unidentified man was shot in north Minneapolis during a confrontation with ICE
- January 22: Alex Pretti was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents
The pattern of deadly force raised serious questions about Border Patrol Minnesota training, use-of-force policies, and operational oversight under Bovino’s command.
4. Federal Judge Already Called Bovino “Not Credible”
Bovino’s credibility problems didn’t start in Minnesota. In November 2025, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a scathing ruling about Bovino’s testimony in a civil rights lawsuit related to his previous operation in Chicago.
After reviewing three days of deposition testimony, Judge Ellis wrote: “Bovino appeared evasive over the three days of his deposition, either providing ‘cute’ responses… or outright lying.”
The federal judge’s determination that a high-ranking Border Patrol Minnesota commander was dishonest under oath added weight to critics’ claims that official accounts of the Pretti shooting couldn’t be trusted. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to questions about why Bovino was assigned to lead Minnesota operations despite the adverse court ruling.
Mayor Frey: “The President Agreed This Cannot Continue”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the leadership changes Tuesday, revealing details of his Monday conversation with President Trump about Border Patrol Minnesota operations.
“I spoke with President Trump this afternoon and appreciated the conversation,” Frey stated. “I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end. The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue.”
Frey confirmed that federal agents began leaving Minneapolis on Tuesday and said he would “continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.” The mayor made clear that Minneapolis would not participate in what he called “unconstitutional arrests” and emphasized that “violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not based on where they are from.”
The mayor plans to meet with Tom Homan Tuesday to discuss next steps for federal enforcement in Minneapolis.
5. Who Is Greg Bovino? A Controversial Career
Fired by Biden, Rehired by Trump
Gregory Bovino, 56, joined the Border Patrol in 1996 and spent nearly three decades rising to become one of 20 regional chiefs nationwide. But his career has been marked by controversy.
Under the Biden administration, Bovino was removed from command of the Border Patrol’s El Centro, California sector. According to The Associated Press, the removal involved:
- An online profile picture showing him posing with an M4 assault rifle
- Social media posts deemed inappropriate by agency leadership
- Controversial sworn testimony to Congress about border conditions
Despite this removal, the Trump administration elevated Bovino to lead some of its highest-profile immigration enforcement operations.
Aggressive Tactics Across Multiple Cities
Before arriving in Minnesota, Bovino led controversial operations in several major cities:
Los Angeles: Agents under his command smashed car windows, blew open residential doors, and patrolled MacArthur Park on horseback during mass arrest operations.
Chicago: Operation Midway Blitz featured use of tear gas and tense confrontations that led to the lawsuit where Judge Ellis questioned his honesty.
Charlotte and New Orleans: Additional enforcement campaigns that established his reputation for aggressive, visible tactics.
Critics argue Bovino’s operational style prioritized dramatic displays over effective, constitutional law enforcement—an approach that ultimately led to tragedy in Border Patrol Minnesota operations.
6. Tom Homan: Obama’s Deportation Chief Takes Control
Tom Homan brings a very different profile to Minnesota enforcement operations. As head of ICE Enforcement and Removal under President Obama, Homan oversaw 432,000 deportations in 2013—the highest annual total on record.
Unlike Bovino’s operational background, Homan is a policy expert and strategist who has spent years defending aggressive immigration enforcement. In a 2018 interview, he stated bluntly: “If you’re in the country illegally, you should be concerned.”
Homan’s appointment signals a potential shift from Bovino’s confrontational street-level operations toward more strategic, intelligence-driven enforcement. However, his track record suggests deportation numbers may actually increase under his leadership, even as tactics become less visible and controversial.
The leadership change sparked immediate political responses:
Republicans: Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Homan’s deployment “a positive development” that could “turn down the temperature and restore order in Minnesota.”
Democrats: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded the “entire ICE apparatus must leave Minnesota. Not tomorrow, not next week, TODAY.”
Minnesota’s congressional delegation remains sharply divided, with Democrats calling for complete suspension of Operation Metro Surge and Republicans supporting continued enforcement with reformed tactics.
Community Impact: Fear and Economic Disruption
The presence of thousands of federal agents conducting Border Patrol Minnesota operations has devastated immigrant communities:
- Families keeping children home from school
- Workers afraid to commute to jobs
- Individuals avoiding medical care and emergency services
- Community events canceled due to fear
- Reduced foot traffic in immigrant neighborhoods
- Employee absences impacting businesses
- Customers avoiding areas with federal agent presence
- Some businesses temporarily closing during enforcement operations
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara warned that fear of Border Patrol Minnesota operations is making everyone less safe: “When people in our community are afraid to call police, afraid to report crimes, afraid to serve as witnesses—that makes everyone less safe.”
Legal Challenges Mount
Multiple lawsuits challenge federal enforcement tactics:
Civil Rights Complaints: The ACLU alleges constitutional violations, excessive force, unlawful detention of U.S. citizens, and Fourth Amendment violations during Border Patrol Minnesota operations.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits: The Pretti and Good families have filed or plan to file federal lawsuits seeking damages and policy reforms.
State Jurisdiction Questions: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is examining whether state law can restrict federal operations that violate residents’ constitutional rights.
What Happens Next?
Short-Term Changes
- Some Border Patrol agents departing Minnesota this week
- Homan meeting with state and local officials
- Potential tactical adjustments to reduce visible enforcement
- Ongoing investigations into three fatal shootings
Unanswered Questions
Will tactics change? Homan’s reputation suggests continued aggressive enforcement but with more strategic targeting and less street-level drama.
How many agents will leave? Federal officials haven’t disclosed final numbers, though some reduction appears certain.
Will local cooperation improve? Minneapolis maintains its non-cooperation stance regardless of federal leadership.
What about accountability? The fatal shootings require thorough investigation, but DHS has remained silent on potential discipline or policy changes.
Legal Help:
Resources for Affected Communities
- Immigration Legal Resource Center: (800) 555-0199
- ACLU of Minnesota: www.aclu-mn.org
- The Advocates for Human Rights: (612) 341-3302
Community Support:
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: Free legal consultations
- CEAP: Emergency financial assistance
- Navigate MN: Connection to local services
Know Your Rights: Organizations across Minnesota are conducting workshops teaching immigrant community members their legal protections when encountering federal agents.
- Conclusion: Minnesota Enforcement at a Crossroads
Bovino’s removal and Homan’s arrival mark a critical turning point for Border Patrol Minnesota operations. Whether this represents meaningful reform or simply new management for unchanged operations remains to be seen.
For Minnesota’s immigrant communities, uncertainty continues. Despite leadership changes, over 3,000 federal agents remain deployed for enforcement operations, and the threat of arrest, detention, and deportation persists for thousands of state residents.
As community organizations mobilize, legal challenges proceed, and political pressure mounts, the story of Border Patrol Minnesota in 2026 continues to unfold. The outcome will likely influence how the Trump administration approaches immigration enforcement in other states with resistant local leadership and large immigrant populations.
The three families mourning loved ones killed during Operation Metro Surge wait for answers about why their relatives died—and whether anyone will be held accountable.
Q: Why was Greg Bovino removed from Border Patrol Minnesota? A: Bovino was removed following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, video evidence contradicting his official account, prior court rulings questioning his credibility, and pressure from local officials.
Q: How many agents are in Minnesota? A: Operation Metro Surge deployed over 3,000 federal agents—approximately 1,000 Border Patrol officers and 2,000 ICE agents. Some are now departing.
Q: Who is Tom Homan? A: Homan is Trump’s border czar who previously led ICE under Obama, overseeing record deportations. He now controls all Minnesota immigration enforcement.
Q: Will Operation Metro Surge end? A: Mayor Frey is pushing for complete termination, but the Trump administration has only confirmed some agents will leave. Most federal personnel remain.
Q: Are the shootings being investigated? A: Yes, all three fatal shootings are under investigation, and families are pursuing wrongful death lawsuits.
Gregory Bovino’s removal from his position as Chief of the Border Patrol is a significant development, particularly following the incident involving the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. The discrepancies highlighted by video evidence and previous judicial findings regarding Bovino’s credibility have raised serious concerns among local authorities. In Minnesota, Operation Metro Surge’s deployment of over 3,000 federal agents illustrates the administration’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement, despite ongoing discussions about the future of the operation. The investigations into the recent fatal shootings are active, with families seeking accountability through wrongful death lawsuits.
