Trump Pulls Back in Minnesota

The Trump administration has begun a significant recalibration of its controversial immigration enforcement strategy in the US state of Minnesota, signalling a partial retreat after mounting political pressure and the fatal shooting of a civilian during a federal operation. Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who had become the public face of the hardline crackdown in Minneapolis, is widely expected to leave the state on Tuesday, along with a group of federal agents deployed under the operation.

According to senior administration officials, the 55-year-old Bovino is being withdrawn as part of a broader leadership reshuffle within what has been dubbed “Operation Metro Surge”, an immigration-focused enforcement campaign that drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders and civil rights groups. This adjustment follows the second reported death of a civilian linked to the actions of federal officers during the operation, intensifying concerns over excessive force and accountability.

Sources familiar with the decision say the specially created post of “Commander-at-Large”, which Bovino had occupied, has now been abolished. He is expected to return to his former role as a senior Border Patrol agent along the US–Mexico border in California. While media reports suggested that Bovino’s removal amounted to a demotion and hinted at his possible retirement, the Department of Homeland Security has rejected those claims. In a statement, the department insisted that Bovino had not been dismissed, praising him instead as a “patriotic public servant”.

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his so-called “border czar”, Tom Homan, would be dispatched to Minnesota to oversee the ongoing operation. Homan will report directly to the President, a move interpreted by analysts as an attempt to impose tighter political control while defusing local outrage. The White House confirmed that the strategic shift came in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, whose death has become a flashpoint in the debate over federal enforcement tactics.

Following the incident, President Trump held telephone conversations with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Both leaders, previously blamed by Trump for unrest in the state, described the talks as “productive”. The President struck a notably conciliatory tone, saying the federal government and state authorities were now “on the same page”. Governor Walz later confirmed that Trump had agreed to reduce the number of federal agents on the ground and to work more closely with local law enforcement.

Despite Bovino’s apparent departure, protests have continued. Demonstrators gathered outside the hotel where he was believed to be staying, banging pots and pans and blowing whistles in a show of defiance. Bovino has long been a polarising figure, known for producing cinematic-style promotional videos of the operation and for appearing maskless and assertive while other agents concealed their identities. Critics likened his rhetoric and presentation to authoritarian imagery, a comparison that further inflamed tensions.

Bovino consistently defended the actions of federal agents, including in the case of Alex Pretti, whom he initially claimed was preparing to carry out a serious attack. However, video footage later contradicted this account, showing that Pretti was unarmed and holding only a mobile phone. The White House has since described the killing as “tragic” and confirmed that the incident is under investigation. Notably, a federal judge last year sharply rebuked Bovino for providing misleading information to the court in an unrelated case, a detail now resurfacing amid renewed scrutiny.

Key developments at a glance

The developments in Minnesota underline the growing tension between aggressive federal immigration enforcement and demands for restraint, transparency and respect for civil liberties, as the Trump administration seeks to balance its political objectives with escalating public and legal pressure.