Skip to content 
Gregory “Greg” Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol official who became the public face of an aggressive federal immigration surge in Minneapolis, is being moved out of Minnesota and back to his prior post in El Centro, California, according to reporting that cites multiple officials familiar with the shift.
The change comes amid nationwide scrutiny over two fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving federal immigration enforcement officers in January, and an intensifying dispute between federal agencies and Minnesota officials over transparency, accountability, and access to evidence.
A Leadership Reshuffle, and a Public Dispute Over Whether It Is a Demotion
Reuters reported Tuesday, January 27, 2026, that Bovino had been removed from his role as “commander at large,” citing The Atlantic and confirmations from a Homeland Security official and other people familiar with the change.
At almost the same time, DHS messaging publicly pushed back on the framing of an ouster. The Independent reported that DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied Bovino had been relieved of duties, after reports said he had been removed from the Minneapolis role and would return to California, with sources suggesting he could retire soon.
AP also reported that Bovino and some agents were expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as President Donald Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to take charge of ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota.
CBS News similarly reported that Bovino and some agents were set to leave the Minneapolis area, with sources describing the move as Bovino being relieved of his command locally and returning to California.
Two Deaths in One Month, and Video That Undercut Official Claims
The leadership changes follow a January that turned Minneapolis into a national flashpoint.
On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot and killed by an ICE officer during enforcement activity in Minneapolis.
Reuters reported the killing has raised major legal questions about federal immunity and accountability, with lawyers weighing possible claims that face steep procedural barriers even if the underlying use of force is challenged.
On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed during a confrontation involving federal agents.
Reuters reported senior Trump administration officials defended the killing even as bystander video contradicted parts of the government’s narrative, fueling protests and deepening tension between local law enforcement and federal officers.
International and U.S. coverage of the videos has converged on a central point: recordings appear to show Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, in the moments before he was tackled and shot, contradicting statements describing him as an armed aggressor.
Minnesota Officials Say Federal Agencies Blocked State Scrutiny
As outrage surged, Minnesota officials moved into court to force preservation of evidence and to contest the scope of the federal operation.
The Washington Post reported that in court, a Trump administration lawyer said body camera footage and related evidence were being preserved, while also resisting broader court orders and not guaranteeing the material would be shared with state investigators.
Minnesota officials raised concerns about the handling of evidence and limits placed on state access.
Reuters separately reported earlier in January that a U.S. judge ordered curbs on immigration agents’ conduct toward Minnesota protesters, amid claims of excessive tactics and an enforcement presence that grew to nearly 3,000 officers across agencies.
Tom Homan Takes Over the Minneapolis Operation, as Trump Signals De-Escalation
View this post on Instagram
Reuters reported that Trump moved Tom Homan into a direct oversight role in Minneapolis and also held calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, describing the conversations as steps toward lowering the temperature after the killings.
According to Axios, Walz described the call with Trump as productive and said the president appeared open to reducing the federal footprint and cooperating with an independent state investigation into the killings, while Homan would report directly to Trump.
AP reported the White House faced political fallout and that the administration pointed to multiple investigations tied to Pretti’s killing, while Minnesota leaders pressed for de-escalation and for federal agents to leave.
What Remains Unanswered
Several questions are now at the center of the story, and the answers will likely come through courts, internal reviews, and public release of evidence rather than press briefings.
- What exactly changed in Bovino’s status: Reuters reported removal from the “commander at large” role, while DHS statements described him as still part of the team, leaving the true scope of discipline or reassignment unclear.
- Who fired the fatal shots in the Pretti case, and under what justification: Reuters reporting described official defenses of the shooting despite contradictory video, while other coverage emphasized the gap between early claims and what bystander footage shows.
- Whether state investigators will gain access to body camera footage and other records: The Washington Post reported court disputes over preservation and access, with Minnesota officials warning the state cannot investigate fully without cooperation.
- How far legal exposure extends from the Good killing: Reuters reported the case could test the limits of ICE immunity, with litigation options complicated by federal doctrines that restrict suits and damages.
