Federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis is undergoing a sudden shakeup as the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol and several agents prepare to leave the city following two fatal encounters involving American citizens this month.
According to the New York Post, reports state Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino has been ordered out of Minnesota in a dramatic reversal after escalating violence and political pressure.
The move does not apply to all Border Patrol agents, nor does it extend to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Still, Fox reported that Bovino will be among those exiting the state “imminently,” marking a significant retreat after weeks of heightened enforcement activity.
Bovino has drawn sharp criticism for his aggressive posture on immigration and for his public comments following the most recent shooting.
On Saturday, he claimed that ICU nurse Alex Pretti was brandishing a firearm before Border Patrol agents opened fire, a version of events that has been disputed.
Minneapolis has been on edge since Jan. 7, when anti-ICE protester Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent after authorities said she accelerated her SUV toward him.
Tensions intensified over the weekend with the death of a second American. Pretti, also 37, was shot during a chaotic confrontation involving federal agents and protesters.
Authorities believe an errant shot from Pretti’s own pistol — after it had been removed from him — may have triggered agents to open fire. Pretti had been carrying the gun in his belt when he stepped between a protester and ICE agents.
Border Patrol agents tackled and disarmed him, and he was killed during the ensuing struggle.
The second death sent tensions to a boiling point, with unrest spreading across the city and criticism mounting from both sides of the political aisle.
In a rare break from President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, some Republicans publicly suggested the Department of Homeland Security should pull agents from the area altogether.
Over the weekend, Bovino escalated his rhetoric, labeling Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and accusing Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, of “inciting” the unrest.
That tone softened on Monday after Trump weighed in, signaling a shift toward de-escalation.
“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial.
The situation remains fluid, with questions lingering about the use of force, command decisions, and whether additional federal personnel will be withdrawn.
This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
