Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, a key figure in the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, is planning to leave the city on Tuesday. The development signals a potential shift in the federal government’s on-the-ground posture in the area. As first reported by NBC News, additional federal agents are also expected to begin departing later this week.
Officials familiar with the decision said Bovino’s exit is scheduled for Tuesday, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection is moving ahead with plans to reduce the number of agents deployed throughout the city. Sources confirmed that a drawdown is underway, though the final number of agents to remain has not yet been determined.
Bovino had served as the public face of the Minneapolis operation, known internally as Operation Metro Surge, a deployment that has drawn criticism and debate on Capitol Hill. The scrutiny has intensified amid reporting on a swing-district Democrat breaking with his party’s cautious approach following the Minneapolis shooting.
The federal pullback follows weeks of escalating tension in the city
The planned reduction follows weeks of heightened conflict between immigration agents and demonstrators. Tensions intensified after the fatal shooting of two Americans, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, by Homeland Security officers, which prompted renewed pressure on the administration to reconsider its approach in Minneapolis.
The shift also comes shortly after a phone call on Monday between President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Both leaders publicly described the call in positive terms, and Walz later stated that the president agreed to review the federal deployment in the city. The planned drawdown of agents appears to have followed that discussion, amid broader political shifts such as the ongoing discussion about the EU-US trade deal getting delayed.
While Bovino will continue serving in a leadership role within the Border Patrol organization, the administration is moving to install new leadership on the ground. President Trump announced that Tom Homan, his border czar, will travel to Minnesota this week and serve as the administration’s primary point of contact for immigration enforcement efforts in the area.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the change, rejecting any suggestion that the move reflected dissatisfaction with how recent events were handled. She said Homan has been working closely with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the president over the past year, adding that Noem continues to have the president’s full confidence.
Published: Jan 26, 2026 08:30 pm