Bovino: 700 Agents Withdrawn From Minnesota In 'Surrender'

Greg Bovino, the former US border patrol chief, told the BBC on Friday that the Trump administration surrendered its Minneapolis deportation operation. Bovino, 56, described the decision to pull federal officers out of the city as a strategic retreat that left immigration enforcement in a state of virtual standstill. He made the remarks while campaigning for stricter border policies in Detroit.

Approximately 700 immigration agents left Minnesota after President Donald Trump announced a de-escalation in January. The withdrawal occurred shortly after US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal officers during the operation. Video of both shootings sparked bipartisan backlash and large-scale protests across the country. Following the deaths, Trump stated he would de-escalate the situation, and White House border tsar Tom Homan assumed control of the remaining efforts.

Bovino said he regretted not arresting more non-citizens in the state before the pullout. He characterized his agents as the real victims of what he called the most violent law enforcement mission in US history. When asked if video evidence contradicted his claim that Good and Pretti intended to harm officers, Bovino maintained that violence was perpetrated against the government. He argued that society is bound by laws and that consequences follow when those laws are ignored.

The former chief also addressed a lawsuit filed by Good’s family earlier this month. The civil suit alleges wrongful death and a conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. The complaint names Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good, for their individual roles in the operation. The family’s lawyers accused Bovino of spewing propaganda and stated their team looks forward to deposing him and other defendants in court.

Bovino was removed from his leadership position shortly after the January shootings. He said he has not received a final explanation from the administration regarding his departure. Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary at the time, was fired by Trump in March. Bovino has since retired from the border patrol but remains active in political discourse.

The former chief proposed a new model of total spectrum immigration enforcement backed by the military. He claimed without evidence that 100 million people are in the US illegally. A White House spokesperson countered that Trump delivered the largest reduction in illegal immigration in modern history, citing more than 3 million departures under his policies.

Bovino also suggested he might run for president in 2028. He stated that if politicians fail to step up, he may enter the race. He recently spoke at a far-right rally in Michigan where activists demanded the deportation of Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan. El-Sayed, a US-born citizen, could become the first Muslim US senator if he defeats Republican Mike Rogers.