Trump Administration Removes Gregory Bovino From Minnesota ICE Mission After Minneapolis Shooting and Legal Challenges
Federal leadership change follows fatal January 24 shooting and intensifying scrutiny of “Operation Metro Surge”
The Trump administration has removed Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino from a leading role in federal immigration operations in Minnesota, as Minneapolis and state officials press for investigations and courts weigh emergency actions tied to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis nurse during an enforcement operation.
Bovino, a senior figure who had been publicly associated with the Minnesota deployment, is expected to leave the Minneapolis area as federal officials reconfigure command responsibilities. The shift comes after days of protests and mounting political pressure following the death of Alex Pretti, 37, who was shot on January 24, 2026, near the intersection of East 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
What is known about the shooting of Alex Pretti
Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was killed during an encounter involving federal agents operating in Minneapolis. Early federal statements described Pretti as posing an imminent threat. Widely circulated bystander video and witness accounts released afterward prompted renewed scrutiny of those initial claims, and local leaders have called for an independent review of the agents’ actions and the public narrative that followed.
In the immediate aftermath, Minnesota authorities sought judicial intervention to preserve evidence. On January 25, a court issued an emergency temporary restraining order barring federal agencies and personnel from destroying or altering evidence connected to the shooting, including materials removed from the scene or held in exclusive federal custody.
Mayor says some federal agents will begin leaving Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke with President Donald Trump and was told that some federal agents would begin leaving the area on January 27. Frey also said he planned to meet with White House immigration adviser Tom Homan to discuss next steps for the federal operation in Minnesota.
The agent drawdown, as described by city leadership, does not represent a full suspension of federal immigration enforcement. City officials have emphasized cooperation on criminal investigations while rejecting any role in civil immigration enforcement or actions they argue exceed constitutional limits.
Broader context: lawsuits and questions about the scope of federal authority
The Minnesota deployment has been linked to “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal initiative launched in late 2025 that concentrated immigration enforcement resources in the Twin Cities and later expanded statewide. Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul have pursued legal challenges arguing the scale and tactics of the operation improperly intrude on state and local authority, with aspects of the dispute now before federal court.
Gregory Bovino is being moved out of Minnesota amid political backlash and disputed accounts of the January 24 shooting.
A court order issued January 25 blocks federal agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to the shooting.
City officials say some federal agents will begin leaving Minneapolis on January 27 as leadership talks continue.
The reshaping of federal leadership and the evidence-preservation order mark a turning point in the Minnesota operation, as investigators, courts and elected officials converge on the events surrounding the January 24 shooting.
Federal agencies have not publicly released a complete timeline of actions, chain-of-command decisions, or the full set of recordings and reports tied to the incident. Those details are expected to be central to ongoing court proceedings and any independent investigative reviews.