MINNEAPOLIS — In a major tactical shift following weeks of escalating violence and public outcry, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino is set to depart Minnesota. The move comes as President Trump attempts to stabilize a federal immigration operation that has left two U.S. citizens dead and the Twin Cities in a state of near-total civil unrest.
President Trump announced late Monday that his “border czar,” Tom Homan, will take personal command of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state. The reshuffle effectively sidelines Bovino, who had become the lightning rod for criticism over the conduct of Operation Metro Surge.
The Exit of the “Commander-at-Large”
Gregory Bovino, previously the chief of the El Centro sector in California, rose to national prominence in 2025 as the face of the Trump administration’s interior enforcement strategy. Holding the non-statutory title of “Commander-at-Large,” Bovino led high-profile raids in Los Angeles and Chicago before arriving in Minneapolis this month.
His tenure in Minnesota was marked by a series of high-intensity confrontations:
- The Roosevelt High School Clash: Agents under Bovino’s command used chemical irritants on school grounds and detained a teacher.
- Renee Good Fatality: On January 7, a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, while she was reportedly acting as a legal observer.
- The Alex Pretti Shooting: On Saturday, agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, during a scuffle on Nicollet Avenue.
Bovino’s immediate justification of the Pretti shooting—claiming the nurse intended to “massacre” agents—was quickly undermined by bystander video showing Pretti holding a cell phone. Sources indicate that Bovino will return to California to prepare for retirement.
Homan Steps In: A Shift in Strategy?
By dispatching Tom Homan, the White House is signaling a move away from Bovino’s “tactical surge” aesthetic and toward a more traditional, albeit still aggressive, command structure.
“Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” President Trump posted on Truth Social. “He knows and likes many of the people there.”
Homan, the former acting director of ICE, is expected to focus federal resources on “the worst of the worst” criminal targets, a rhetorical shift aimed at cooling tensions with local officials. Following a private call between the President and Governor Tim Walz, the administration has reportedly agreed to better coordinate with state authorities to avoid further civilian casualties.
Key Personnel Changes
| Official | Old Role | New Status |
| Gregory Bovino | Commander-at-Large, Minneapolis | Returning to California (Retirement pending) |
| Tom Homan | White House Border Czar | Directing ICE Operations in Minnesota |
| Kristi Noem | DHS Secretary | Oversight sidelined in favor of Homan-Trump direct report |
A City Under Pressure
The removal of Bovino has not yet quelled the protests that have paralyzed parts of the Twin Cities. Operation Metro Surge, described by the DHS as the “largest immigration enforcement operation ever,” continues to involve over 3,000 federal agents across the state.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey welcomed the change in leadership but maintained that the federal footprint must be drastically reduced. “The present situation—where federal agents are acting as a roving paramilitary force in our neighborhoods—cannot continue,” Frey said.
As Homan takes the reins, he faces an immediate crisis of transparency. Legal advocacy groups and the Minnesota Attorney General are demanding the full release of body-camera footage from the Pretti and Good shootings, as well as an end to the “checkpoint” tactics currently being used at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.