US Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday as the Trump administration reshuffles its immigration enforcement leadership and scales back its federal presence following a second fatal shooting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Leadership Changes and Shooting Investigation
President Donald Trump said he was placing Tom Homan, his border “tsar,” in charge of the mission, with Mr. Homan reporting directly to the White House. This comes after Mr. Bovino faced condemnation for claiming Alex Pretti, the man killed, had been planning to “massacre” law enforcement officers – a characterization authorities have not substantiated.
Saturday’s fatal shooting of Mr. Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, ignited political backlash and raised questions about the operation’s management. A Customs and Border Protection official told Congress on Tuesday that two federal officers fired shots during the encounter with Mr. Pretti.
According to a notification to Congress obtained by The Associated Press, officers attempted to take Mr. Pretti into custody, but he resisted, leading to a struggle. A Border Patrol officer and a CBP officer each fired Glock pistols. Investigators from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the analysis based on body-worn camera footage and agency documentation.
Criticism of Federal Crackdowns
Mr. Bovino’s leadership of federal crackdowns in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minneapolis has drawn criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats. A person familiar with the matter confirmed to the AP that Mr. Bovino is among the federal agents leaving Minneapolis.
The departure coincides with a more moderate tone from Mr. Trump regarding the Minnesota crackdown, including his comments about productive conversations with the governor and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Mr. Frey stated he asked Mr. Trump to end the immigration enforcement surge, and Mr. Trump agreed the current situation was unsustainable. Mr. Frey intends to continue pushing for the removal of others involved in Operation Metro Surge.
Mr. Homan will take charge of ICE operations in Minnesota. Mr. Frey plans to meet with Mr. Homan on Tuesday.
Legal Challenges and Political Reactions
Mr. Trump and Democratic Governor Tim Walz spoke by phone and offered comments reflecting a change from their previous critical exchanges. Their conversation occurred on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to halt the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.
“We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” the president wrote in a social media post. Mr. Walz, in a statement, said the call was “productive” and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed. Mr. Trump said his administration was looking for “any and all” criminals the state has in its custody, while Mr. Walz said the state Department of Corrections honors federal requests for individuals in its custody.
Lawyers for the administration, the state, and the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul appeared before US District Judge Katherine Menendez on Monday, who is considering requests to temporarily halt the immigration operation. She has prioritized the case and requested an additional brief from the federal government by Wednesday addressing concerns that the operation is intended to punish the state and cities for their sanctuary laws and policies.
Minnesota assistant attorney general Brian Carter argued that failure to halt the federal government’s enforcement actions could damage the republic. Judge Menendez questioned the government’s motivation and expressed skepticism about a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting access to voter rolls, state Medicaid and food assistance records, and the repeal of sanctuary policies.
The state of Minnesota and the cities sued the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs officer. Mr. Pretti’s shooting added urgency to the case.
Gun Politics and White House Response
The death of Mr. Pretti has sparked debate, with some calling for a thorough investigation and others criticizing inconsistencies in Republican stances on Second Amendment rights. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed Mr. Trump’s support for the Second Amendment while acknowledging the increased risk of force when individuals bear arms during encounters with law enforcement.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described Mr. Pretti as “an assassin,” a characterization Mr. Trump later refuted. However, Mr. Trump added that protesters “can’t have guns” and reiterated his desire for a thorough investigation.
“You can’t walk in with guns, you just can’t,” Mr. Trump told reporters before departing for a trip to Iowa.
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