Immigration chief at centre of Trump's crackdown set to leave Minneapolis

January 27, 2026

Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a US citizen and nurse who was filming immigration agents in Minneapolis, the Trump administration is making significant changes to its enforcement operations in the city. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who led the aggressive raids and claimed Pretti intended to harm agents, is being removed from his position and replaced by border official Tom Homan, who will report directly to President Trump. The shift comes amid mounting pressure from both Democrats and some Republicans calling for independent investigations into Pretti's death and the earlier killing of another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, by federal immigration agents.

Who is affected

Alex Pretti (37-year-old nurse, fatally shot) and his family, including sister Micayla Pretti
Renee Good (previously killed by ICE agent on January 7) and her family
Minneapolis and St. Paul residents, particularly immigrant communities and Somali immigrants
Approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents deployed in Minneapolis
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino (being removed from Minneapolis operations)
Tom Homan (Trump's border official taking over operations)
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
Chris Madel (Republican gubernatorial candidate who dropped out of the race)
Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and John Curtis

What action is being taken

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and some immigration agents are leaving Minneapolis
Tom Homan is beginning to lead on-the-ground enforcement efforts in the city
Immigration raids are continuing despite the announced changes (confirmed by online tracking)
President Trump is having phone calls with Democratic city and state officials
Memorials, vigils, and demonstrations against ICE action are ongoing in Minneapolis
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working to conduct an independent investigation (with Trump agreeing to look into facilitating this)
Local authorities are preserving evidence from the crime scene under judicial warrant

Why it matters

This situation represents a critical test of federal authority versus local oversight in immigration enforcement, particularly regarding accountability when federal agents kill US citizens. The incident has created rare bipartisan concern, with some Republicans joining Democrats in questioning the administration's tactics, potentially fracturing support for Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown. The administration's apparent strategic shift—replacing confrontational leadership and softening rhetoric—suggests recognition that the deaths of two American citizens have crossed a political threshold that threatens broader support for enforcement operations. The outcome will likely influence how immigration enforcement proceeds nationwide and whether federal agents face meaningful accountability when their actions result in civilian deaths.

What's next

Tom Homan will report directly to the president on Minneapolis operations
Trump agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey hopes to meet with Homan on Tuesday to discuss next steps
More vigils and demonstrations are planned for the coming days
The administration is working to ensure the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can conduct an independent investigation into Pretti's death
Both Trump and local Democratic leaders are seeking ways to end their standoff over deportation operations

Read full article from source: BBC