Greg Bovino faraway from Border Patrol function and ‘expected to retire soon’ after Alex Pretti killing, report says

Border Patrol “commander at large” Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role and will return back to his old job in California, according to reports.

Bovino, who has been heavily involved in heavy crackdowns on immigration across the country, will return to El Centro and is expected to retire soon, a DHS official and two other sources told The Atlantic.

It comes following the recent chaotic events in Minneapolis, in which two protesters have been shot dead by federal agents in less than three weeks. Renee Nicole Good was shot by an ICE agent on January 7 and ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed Sunday.

Bovino was reportedly set to leave Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday due to one of his agents being involved with the Pretti’s death, however news of his demotion had not been specified.

The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol to confirm the reports.

The removal of Bovino and his agents from the city appeared to mark a shift in tone from the Trump administration in its handling of the situation in Minnesota, which has seen an explosion in tension between protesters and law enforcement following the two fatal shootings.

On Monday the president spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in separate and seemingly positive conversations.

In a Monday afternoon statement, Frey said Trump “agreed the present situation can’t continue” in the city, adding: “Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.”

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Source: independent.co.uk