In the wake of mounting outrage following the public execution of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, President Trump’s administration is quietly shifting course. Gregory Bovino, the controversial Border Patrol “commander-at-large,” is being pulled out of Minnesota and reassigned to his previous post in El Centro, California—where retirement is expected to follow shortly.

The Atlantic reports today that Bovino has lost his national coordinating role and will return to El Centro. Multiple sources, including DHS insiders, confirmed the move as a direct response to fierce public backlash over his combative defense of federal agents involved in Pretti’s murder and his fight–first demeanor on social media.

According to the Washington Examiner, six federal sources say Bovino was removed from overseeing ICE-embedded operations and notified he would return to El Centro as of Tuesday. The move came just days after Pretti was executed during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis.

The reassignment marks a stark shift in federal strategy amid the highly criticized Operation Metro Surge, which deployed over 3,000 agents across the Twin Cities. Local officials—including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz—welcomed the change as a step toward de-escalation. Mayor Frey confirmed that some agents, including Bovino, will start leaving the area immediately following his call with President Trump.

But the administration insists Bovino remains very much in play. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin publicly denied that the commander-at-large position has been eliminated, stating Bovino “has NOT been relieved of his duties” and remains “a key part of the President’s team.”
This response was echoed in a breaking report by Forbes, underscoring internal mixed messaging over his status.

This unfolding federal retreat follows two recent, controversial homicides in Minneapolis: nurse Alex Pretti and a protester, Renée Good. Both incidents triggered intense protests and renewed scrutiny of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. With legal challenges surfacing—including lawsuits accusing the administration of retaliating against sanctuary policies—federal authorities appear to be recalibrating their posture.

Forquiring readers in Cowlitz County and southwest Washington: if similar aggressive enforcement operations were ever implemented here, we must demand accountability and transparency. These actions have profound implications for our communities—especially in how we resist unconstitutional overreach and defend civil liberties.

Cowlitz communities should remain vigilant, drawing lessons from Minneapolis’s growing backlash. The Constitution demands that law enforcement protect citizens—not escalate conflict or breed fear. Let this demotion of Bovino be a rallying cry to assert local control, protect immigrant solidarity, and resist erosion of our rights.

Sources:
The Atlantic: Atlantic Report on Bovino’s Demotion
Washington Examiner: Details from Federal Sources
Forbes: DHS Denial