Gregory Bovino has emerged as one of the prime faces of President Trump’s immigration enforcement across America. Serving as Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol, Bovino became a controversial figure among Trump critics. His status has taken a hit following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and reports indicate that the 56-year-old has been demoted from his position.
According to the Atlantic and MAGA reporter Nick Sortor, Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol Commander at Large. The move comes as Bovino and many other Border Patrol agents are being pulled out of Minneapolis following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents. DHS officials and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have not publicly commented on Bovino’s reassignment.
The Atlantic also reports that the positions of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her close advisor Corey Lewandowski, two of Bovino’s biggest backers, are at risk as the Trump administration seeks to de-escalate tensions in Minnesota. In a series of social-media posts on January 26, President Trump indicated a tactical shift, highlighting that he spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, signaling cooperation and a “similar wavelength” with local officials.
What’s Next for Bovino?
Bovino is expected to return to his former post in El Centro, California, where he is anticipated to retire soon. Meanwhile, Trump has dispatched Tom Homan, his designated “border czar,” to Minnesota to coordinate federal operations with local leaders and restore order following the controversial deaths of two American citizens by federal agents.
For the past seven months, Bovino served as the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown in cities governed by Democrats, including Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. He frequently appeared at press conferences defending Border Patrol tactics and assigning blame to protestors and local officials, drawing criticism from veteran ICE and CBP officials for operating outside the agency chain of command and for his political activism on social media.
Videos from the Minneapolis incident contradicted Bovino’s claims that Pretti attacked federal agents. Pretti, a licensed concealed-carry ICU nurse, did not draw a weapon and was shot in the back by an agent after being disarmed. Bovino’s demotion marks the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration is rethinking its most aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in response to mounting backlash.
