The Department of Homeland Security on Monday denied reports that Gregory Bovino had been relieved of his duties as Border Patrol chief and operational commander for U.S. Customs and Border Protection following a fatal agent-involved shooting in Minneapolis.
“Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a post on X.
“As the White House press secretary stated from the podium, [Bovino] is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”
Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As @PressSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the President’s team and a great American. https://t.co/qj3E9B8uzg
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) January 27, 2026
McLaughlin’s statement came amid conflicting reports that Bovino had been sidelined days after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
McLaughlin did not say whether Bovino would continue overseeing the federal operation in the city, where two local residents have been killed by federal agents in recent weeks amid ongoing protests.
Earlier Monday, journalist Nick Sortor reported on X that Bovino had been “relieved of duty” as commander-at-large for the U.S. Border Patrol.
🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Gregory Bovino has now been RELIEVED OF DUTY as Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol, I’ve exclusive learned
This is BS! Trump must reverse this NOW!
Bovino put his life on the line EVERY SINGLE DAY pushing for mass deportations across the country,… pic.twitter.com/RlVY9K8Dzw
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 26, 2026
The report was echoed by other outlets citing unnamed DHS officials and individuals described as having knowledge of the matter, who said Bovino would return to his previous assignment in El Centro, California.
According to three sources familiar with internal discussions, Bovino and some of the agents under his command are expected to depart Minneapolis and return to their respective sectors.
DHS has also suspended Bovino’s access to his official social media accounts, according to a source familiar with the decision.
The Trump administration has said that former ICE Director Tom Homan will take over management of immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis following Saturday’s shooting.
President Donald Trump confirmed the move after speaking with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
“I just had a very good telephone conversation with Mayor Jacob Frey, of Minneapolis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Lots of progress is being made. Tom Homan will be meeting with him tomorrow in order to continue the discussion.”
Frey said the president agreed that “the present situation cannot continue” and confirmed plans to meet with Homan on Tuesday.
DHS said in a court filing Monday that approximately 3,000 officers and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection are currently conducting operations in the Minneapolis area.
The filing was submitted after a federal judge requested details on the scale of what the government has described as “Operation Metro Surge.”
During an earlier court hearing, Justice Department attorneys said about 4,000 federal agents had been deployed statewide, with roughly equal numbers coming from ICE and CBP.
A federal appeals court on Monday declined to reinstate a lower court order that would have imposed restrictions on how federal agents may operate around peaceful protesters in Minnesota.
Trump also said he spoke Monday with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, describing the call as productive.
“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It was a very good call, and we seemed to be on a similar wavelength.”
“I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession,” he added.
Walz told MPR News that he sensed “a definite change of tone” from the White House and said Trump agreed to consider reducing the number of immigration enforcement agents in the state.
The governor said he asked Trump to allow the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to conduct an independent investigation into the deaths of Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, another U.S. citizen killed by federal officers during the operation. Walz said Trump told him he would look into the request.
Walz said he plans to speak with Homan to develop a cooperative approach to enforcement going forward.
“We don’t want criminals here, but we also recognize that someone coming here to find a better life should be treated with dignity,” Walz said.
“Americans shouldn’t be fearing for their lives to go out of their house just because of the color of their skin.”
The administration has faced internal disagreement over how to characterize the Minneapolis shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem referred to Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” a description that drew criticism and was later distanced from by the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the president had not used that characterization.
“I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself,” Leavitt said.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called for Noem’s resignation and said Congress should pursue impeachment if she does not step down.
Donald Trump and Kristi Noem think you will believe them over your own eyes. No.
Alex Pretti wasn't a terrorist. He was a VA nurse.
When agents pushed a woman to the ground, he tried to help her up. His last words were “Are you okay?”
Enough.
Kristi Noem should resign. pic.twitter.com/11lsiP6kGk
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 26, 2026
In a video posted to X, Warren accused the administration of misleading the public and called for an independent investigation into federal law enforcement actions in Minnesota.
“Kristi Noem should resign, and if she doesn’t, Congress should impeach her and remove her from office. In America, we still believe in accountability, not lies,” Warren stated.
“We need a full, independent investigation and all wrongdoing held to account to the fullest extent of the law, the victims of this violence deserve justice,” she added.
DHS has said Noem is expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early March, according to a spokesperson for committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
