Border Patrol “commander at large” Gregory Bovino has been removed from his job and is going back to his old position in El Centro, California. Sources say he is expected to retire soon. This sudden move is the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration is starting to rethink some of the aggressive tactics used in its mass-deportation campaign.
The situation began after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. Bovino had been the main spokesperson for the federal operation in that city, and according to The Atlantic, his quick downfall centers on one important lie he told about what happened.
Hours after the shooting, Bovino held a press conference where he strongly supported the Department of Homeland Security’s story, claiming Pretti was trying to “massacre” federal agents. Bovino said multiple times that the agents were actually the victims. However, video evidence quickly came out that completely destroyed those claims.
Video footage reveals the disturbing truth behind Bovino’s false narrative
The video shows what really happened, and it’s truly disturbing. Pretti, an intensive-care nurse who worked with veterans, had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but the footage confirms he never pulled out a gun or attacked the agents. The video actually shows one agent disarming Pretti just moments before another agent shot him in the back and killed him. This direct contradiction of Bovino’s official story is what forced the administration to act.
Bovino wasn’t just a regular commander. He was basically the spokesperson for the administration’s traveling immigration crackdowns, and he did the job with enthusiasm. For the past seven months, he served as the public face of operations targeting cities run by Democrats.
This incident adds to growing concerns about Trump’s approach to international agreements, as the administration faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski strongly supported Bovino, giving him the “commander” title and sending him and his masked agents to cities like Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis.
He became a major social media star within the MAGA community, traveling with his own film crew and using platforms to constantly argue with Democratic politicians and online critics. This political behavior worried many veteran ICE and CBP officials, who grew uncomfortable as Bovino worked outside his agency’s normal chain of command and seemed to enjoy being a political actor instead of a typical Border Patrol commander.
The consequences aren’t limited to Bovino. Sources say that Secretary Noem and Lewandowski, who were Bovino’s biggest supporters at DHS, are now also at risk of losing their jobs. The administration has faced scrutiny over accountability issues before, including a past tax return leak controversy involving government contractors.
This entire incident seems to have led to a major tactical shift from the White House. Earlier today, President Trump appeared to signal this change in several social media posts. The president wrote that he spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and the two are now supposedly on “a similar wavelength.”
President Trump also announced that Tom Homan, the former ICE chief who has been named “border czar,” will go to Minnesota to take command of the federal operation there. In another post, the president confirmed he spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, writing that “Lots of progress is being made!” and noting that Homan will meet with the mayor tomorrow.
Published: Jan 27, 2026 01:15 pm