Border Patrol commander to leave Minneapolis, replaced by border tsar Tom Homan

The Trump administration is reshuffling its immigration operation in Minneapolis after two US citizens were killed by federal agents this month.

Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who became the most visible face of the crackdown, is expected to leave the city along with some of the agents deployed under Operation Metro Surge. While some reports say Bovino has lost his special role and is heading back to his previous post in California, the Department of Homeland Security insists he has not been fired. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said: “Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties.”

Bovino’s high-profile style had made him a lightning rod for criticism. Known for posting slick, action-movie-style videos of raids and confronting protesters in a long military-style coat, he was a central promoter of Trump’s deportation push in Democratic-led cities. CNN reported that DHS has since suspended his access to social media.

In Bovino’s place, President Donald Trump is sending his border tsar, Tom Homan, to take direct control on the ground. Trump announced the move on Monday, writing: “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,” and added that Homan would report straight to him and described him as “tough but fair.”

The change follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, who was killed by Border Patrol agents over the weekend. Earlier this month, another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was also shot dead by a federal immigration officer. The two deaths triggered protests, vigils, and growing political pressure from both Democrats and Republicans.

Bovino had fiercely defended his agents after Pretti’s death, claiming the nurse “wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” That account has been disputed by witnesses, local officials, and Pretti’s family, who say he was holding a phone, not a gun. Pretti’s parents accused the administration of spreading “sickening lies,” and video analysis has found no evidence of a weapon in his hand during the incident.

As public anger grew, protesters gathered outside a hotel where Bovino was believed to be staying, demanding that he leave Minneapolis. Tensions remain high across the city, where roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents have been deployed since December.

Behind the scenes, the White House appears to be changing tone. Trump held calls on Monday with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats he had previously attacked. Trump described his conversation with Walz as productive, saying they were “on a similar wavelength.”

Walz later said the president had agreed “to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota” and to discuss allowing an independent investigation into Pretti’s death. Frey said Trump acknowledged that “the present situation cannot continue,” adding that some agents would begin leaving.

Republican lawmakers have also voiced concern. Senator Ted Cruz urged the administration “to be more measured, to recognise the tragedy,” while Senator John Curtis called for a “transparent, independent investigation,” saying: “Those responsible - no matter their title - must be held accountable.”

Homan, who now takes over in Minnesota, brings decades of experience from both Democratic and Republican administrations. He previously led ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations under Barack Obama and later became a key figure in Trump’s first term. He has long defended a hardline approach, once saying: “If you’re in the country illegally, you should be concerned.”

His expanded role now puts him in charge of controversial enforcement actions far from the southern border, as the administration tries to contain the fallout from Minneapolis while keeping its broader immigration crackdown on track.

For many in the city, the changes offer only cautious hope. Memorials for Pretti and Good continue, and more demonstrations are planned, as residents wait to see whether the promised de-escalation will turn into real accountability.