The Trump administration has removed Greg Bovino from his "commander at large" role following the January 24, 2026, shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sending him back to El Centro for retirement.
This move, reported on by Nick Miroff, looks like an attempt to please right-wing critics uncomfortable with strong tactics, but it risks blaming the wrong people while radicals like Governor Tim Walz escape accountability.
Greg Bovino built a reputation as the tough face of immigration enforcement in Democratic strongholds since mid-2025. Backed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and adviser Corey Lewandowski, he led operations in Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis, using social media and press conferences to expose leftist obstruction and defend federal agents.
His approach made him a hero to true conservatives who demand secure borders, but it drew fire from softer voices on the right who balk at any force necessary to deport criminals and restore order.
The turning point came with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive-care nurse tied to anti-ICE radicals. Agents under Bovino's command acted in self-defense on January 24, 2026, but videos and conflicting accounts fueled backlash.
Bovino stood firm at briefings, calling agents the real victims and blaming protesters for the chaos. Now, a DHS official and two sources confirm his demotion, with Bovino heading back to El Centro, California, for likely retirement.
This reeks of a scapegoat maneuver to quiet conservatives who claim to support the right but whine when enforcement gets real. President Trump posted on January 26 about speaking with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, saying they are "on a similar wavelength" and that he would send border czar Tom Homan to take over.
Noem and Lewandowski may face job risks too, per Miroff's sources, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed Trump's confidence in Noem.
Tim Walz is not an ally and certainly not an American in any real sense. He has turned Minnesota into a haven for criminals, rioters, and foreign interests. Sitting down with him is a betrayal of everything America First stands for.
He should be out of office for inciting violence against federal officers, not given a seat at the table. Blaming Bovino is just a distraction from the real problem: leftist sabotage and the gutting of our enforcement mission.
Real leaders don’t cave when the going gets tough. Strong borders require backbone, not surrender. Throwing men like Bovino to the wolves only gives our enemies more reason to attack. America needs men who enforce the law without apology, not more retreats that hand power to criminals like Walz.