According to CNN, Bovino, who in recent weeks has become the public face of the service's deportation operations, has drawn frustration among Trump administration officials with his handling of the shooting of a man in Minneapolis by his officers. Hours after the incident, Bovino baselessly claimed that 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti intended to carry out a “massacre” against his subordinates, and in an interview with CNN on Sunday he announced that Pretti was not the victim, but the officers.
Why is the Border Patrol leaving Minneapolis?
Who is Greg Bovino?
What changes is the White House making to immigration policy?
Who came to Minneapolis to replace Bovino?
The White House softens its policy
On Monday, Trump sent immigration policy coordinator — “border czar” — Tom Homan to Minneapolis to lead operations in Minnesota. According to reports, among others: Fox News, unlike Bovino Homan, who preferred aggressive operations, advocated focusing the services on detaining and deporting the “worst of the worst” illegal immigrants.
On Monday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced that all Border Patrol agents could leave Minneapolis if local authorities cooperate with the services.
This decision is another sign of the White House's partial retreat from its current approach. According to one administration official quoted by CNN, Trump spent several hours watching TV on Sunday and Monday and was dissatisfied with how his administration was performing. Public opinion polls have shown that Americans in general evaluate the services' actions more and more poorly.
Bovino has been a leading figure so far, appearing wherever federal authorities appear. His style, closely cropped hair and the long coat he wore led him to be compared by critics – including California Gov. Gavin Newsom – to an SS or Gestapo officer.
