Senior Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino will leave Minneapolis following mounting criticism over his defense of agents who fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti, marking a significant shift in federal immigration enforcement strategy.

Mayor Secures Trump Agreement on Agent Withdrawal

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced that President Trump agreed to begin removing federal immigration enforcement officers from the city. The mayor said he directly asked Trump during a phone call to end Operation Metro Surge, and Trump acknowledged the current situation could not continue. Some agents began departing, though Frey vowed to push for the complete withdrawal of all federal immigration officers involved in the controversial operation.

Bovino’s departure represents the most visible change in federal enforcement posture since nationwide protests erupted over immigration raids. The commander had overseen aggressive crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minneapolis that sparked mass demonstrations and fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats. His public defense of the Pretti shooting intensified calls for his removal from the Minnesota operation.

Trump and Governor Find Common Ground

President Trump declared he was on a similar wavelength with Democratic Governor Tim Walz following their phone conversation about the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers this month. Walz called the discussion productive and emphasized the need for impartial investigations into both shootings. The conversation occurred as attorneys appeared before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, who is considering requests to temporarily halt federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.

Legal Challenge Continues Despite Political Progress

Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter argued the street situation was so dire that immediate court intervention was necessary to preserve constitutional governance. Judge Menendez questioned the administration’s motivation behind the crackdown and expressed skepticism about Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter requesting access to voter rolls and Medicaid records and demanding repeal of sanctuary policies. The judge asked whether there were any limits to executive power under immigration enforcement authority, though she issued no immediate ruling on halting the operations.