Greg Bovino and Other Border Patrol Agents Exit Minneapolis

U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino is reportedly leaving Minneapolis this week along with several other federal agents, according to a White House official and a source within the Trump administration familiar with the exit.

Bovino’s departure comes as President Donald Trump dispatched "Border Czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota to lead the current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown.

On Jan. 26, President Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that they’re cooperating to scale down the increase in federal immigration enforcement in the state. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the effort, adding that he also spoke with President Trump. Mayor Frey asserted that the president agreed with both leaders "that the present situation cannot continue."

Bovino has been at the helm of the Trump administration’s rampant immigration enforcement operations across the country. The commander’s departure marks a pivotal turn in the Department of Homeland Security’s stance amid increased escalation over the fatal shootings that have taken place in Minnesota between activists and immigration officers.

According to both a White House official and a law enforcement official, U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to reduce the number of immigration officers in the region, but the size reduction still needs to be discussed.

White House press secretary Karoline Levitt announced that "Border Czar” Homan will take over as the main point of contact on the ground, while Bovino will remain as leader of Border Patrol.

“Mr. Homan is doing an exceptional job, and he has been working with Secretary [Kristi] Noem and President Trump over the course of the last year,” Leavitt replied when asked whether the change in leadership correlated to President Trump potentially becoming dissatisfied with the handling of the fatal shooting of activist Alex Pretti. “Secretary Noem still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States.”