Retired Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino said operations in Minneapolis were “vastly different” from other major cities, where large-scale protests were quickly dispersed.
“Los Angeles, we had the Paramount riot the very first day,” Bovino told The Sun. “That set the tone. We did not have another riot the whole time we were in Los Angeles. Same thing in Chicago.
“Remember Broadview? Two riots at Broadview, and they soon realized, you know, this is not working out too well for us. We’re not going to march downtown Chicago and riot on the U.S. Border Patrol. That doesn’t work out. But in Minnesota, that was a lot different.”
Why It Matters
Bovino, a nearly 30-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol, emerged as a central figure in the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy. He formerly served as Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector in Southern California before being promoted to Commander At Large last year. Bovino was at the forefront of high-profile operations in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis, leading to both praise from supporters and legal challenges from critics.
Widespread protests erupted across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, initially driven by opposition to large-scale immigration raids and the heavy federal presence. Demonstrations escalated after the fatal shooting of Renée Good on January 7, 2026 and the killing of Alex Pretti on January 24.
What To Know
Operation Metro Surge, which began in December 2025 with the deployment of thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities, was initially focused on fraud within the Somali community. Over the following weeks, protests, legal challenges and confrontations grew, culminating in the two fatal incidents.
Bovino was removed from his leadership role in Minnesota amid mounting political and public backlash tied to Operation Metro Surge. Oversight was reassigned to White House Border Czar Tom Homan, reporting directly to President Donald Trump, while Homeland Security leadership, including former Secretary Kristi Noem, was sidelined in day-to-day management. The leadership change followed a series of incidents during the operation in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, including the killing of Good and Pretti. Following Pretti’s death, Bovino said that he intended to “massacre law enforcement,” which sparked outrage.
In the weeks that followed, authorities reduced their presence and began winding down the operation. There had been thousands of arrests but it left unresolved questions about enforcement tactics, oversight, and the balance between public safety and civil liberties.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Bovino’s social media access to his government accounts, CNN reported.
Bovino announced his decision to retire on March 16, saying he planned to leave Border Patrol by the end of the month, according to The New York Times.
Bovino argued that federal agents operated under tighter constraints than normal in Minnesota, telling The Sun: “Handcuffs were on in Minnesota. It was vastly different than it was anywhere else we had been. When you have a large force of immigration officers that want to do that immigration mission, and they’re prevented by rioters and anarchists…it’s very difficult.”
Officials have launched an internal investigation into allegations that Bovino made disparaging comments about a Jewish U.S. attorney during a federal coordination call, including allegedly referencing religious observance in a mocking manner, according to The New York Times.
What People Are Saying
White House Border Czar Tom Homan told NewsNation: “I appreciate Greg Bovino’s service to the country. I think he’s a patriot. The bottom line is, I’ve been fighting sanctuary cities for 10 years, and the fact remains is, under my leadership, I’ve deported more illegal aliens than anybody since the Eisenhower administration.”
“I mean, anybody who thinks Tom Homan’s soft on immigration is just wrong. But look, I appreciate Greg’s service. I appreciate him, you know, putting that badge and gun on every day, so I hope he’s happy in retirement,” he added.
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote in a post on X: “Greg Bovino and Donald Trump’s secret police are terrorizing our communities.”
Retired Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino told The Sun: “Well, the ICE agents bear no responsibility other than they did a good job.”
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