Top US Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and several of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday and return to their home sectors, according to three sources familiar with the discussions. The move sidelines a central figure in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in the city.
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that White House border czar Tom Homan would be sent to Minneapolis after Saturday’s fatal shooting of a US citizen, Alex Pretti. The White House has said Homan will oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended Bovino’s access to his social media accounts, effective immediately, according to a source. Over the weekend, Bovino engaged in heated exchanges with lawmakers on X, responding to criticism of the administration’s handling of the shooting.
One official described Bovino’s departure as a “mutual decision.” While Bovino and some agents are leaving, other Border Patrol personnel are expected to remain in Minneapolis.
CNN has reached out to DHS for comment.
Administration officials were reportedly frustrated with how Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handled the aftermath of the shooting. One official said Trump spent hours over the weekend watching news coverage and was unhappy with how the administration appeared publicly. CNN previously reported that Noem stayed in close contact with the White House on Saturday.
Officials said Bovino worsened the situation by claiming that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents. Bovino gave an interview to CNN and held a news conference on Sunday, but neither appearance eased criticism or resolved contradictions in the administration’s narrative. Discussions about removing Bovino from Minnesota began Sunday afternoon, according to a senior official.
Tensions also rose after Noem labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and claimed he brandished a legally owned firearm—an assertion not supported by video evidence.
During Monday’s White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt distanced the administration from the “domestic terrorist” label, saying it was not a position Trump himself had taken. While she did not confirm Bovino’s departure, she said Homan would be the main point of contact in Minneapolis and that Bovino would continue to lead Border Patrol operations nationwide.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin later posted on X that Bovino had not been relieved of his duties and remained a key part of the president’s team.
Homan’s new role in Minneapolis is also seen by some as a slight to Noem, who has been locked in a power struggle with him for months. After the announcement, a White House official emphasized that Noem still has Trump’s confidence.
Bovino, a nearly 30-year veteran of the Border Patrol, was appointed last year to lead large-scale federal law enforcement deployments in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and New Orleans. In those cities, aggressive tactics used by agents under his command drew sharp criticism from local leaders, who accused the administration of targeting Democratic-led areas.
His methods—including immigration sweeps in parking lots and breaking car windows—had already raised concerns within the administration and the Border Patrol itself, even before the Minneapolis shooting.
Bovino was also known for highly publicized operations, often appearing without a face covering while agents conducted raids at gas stations and big-box stores.
In Chicago, a federal judge reprimanded Bovino after finding his claim that he was struck in the head with a rock before deploying tear gas was not credible. Video evidence later contradicted his account.
“Defendant Bovino admitted that he lied,” said Judge Sara Ellis, who was overseeing a case related to the conduct of federal agents in Chicago.