Trump Stands by Border Chief Greg Bovino After Minneapolis Shooting
Journey Tribune – Supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have rallied behind U.S. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino after conflicting reports suggested he could be removed from his post following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis.
The controversy follows the death of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse and American citizen, who was shot on Saturday by a federal immigration agent while filming an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. The killing has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics and triggered political fallout for the Trump administration.
Confusion Over Bovino’s Status
On Monday, CNN and the Associated Press, citing anonymous sources, reported that Bovino—chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector in Southern California—might be reassigned or relieved of duty in response to the Minneapolis incident.
Those claims were swiftly denied by senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote on X: “Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Greg Bovino is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”
Leavitt echoed that message, calling Bovino “a wonderful man” and “a great professional,” while confirming he would continue serving in a national leadership role within Customs and Border Protection.
MAGA Figures Rush to Defend Bovino
Amid the uncertainty, prominent MAGA-aligned accounts and conservative commentators took to social media to defend Bovino.
Conservative pundit Eric Daugherty wrote on X: “BORDER COMMANDER GREG BOVINO IS A HERO!” The MAGA Voice account, with more than 1.4 million followers, posted: “I STRONGLY SUPPORT GREG BOVINO.” Another high-profile MAGA account, Gunther Eagleman, replied: “Makes 2 of us.”
The online campaign underscored Bovino’s strong backing among Trump’s political base, even as criticism of federal immigration enforcement continues to grow.
Disputed Accounts of Alex Pretti’s Death
Pretti was shot while filming ICE officers during an enforcement action in Minneapolis. Homeland Security officials said he was armed and resisted attempts to disarm him, claiming he had “injected himself into a law enforcement action.”
Bovino told CNN that Pretti intervened while agents were trying to detain an undocumented immigrant nearby and alleged that he intended to “massacre law enforcement” officers and cause “maximum damage.”
Those claims have been challenged by eyewitnesses and Pretti’s family, who say he was documenting the operation and did not pose an imminent threat. Civil rights groups have also questioned whether deadly force was justified.
Second Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis This Month
Pretti’s killing was the second fatal shooting by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis in January. On January 7, another U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, was shot dead by an ICE agent during a separate enforcement operation.
The two deaths have fueled protests and renewed calls for independent investigations into federal immigration enforcement practices.
Political Fallout and Divisions
The Minneapolis shootings have exposed rifts within the political right. While MAGA activists have defended Bovino, some Republicans have called for an investigation into Pretti’s death. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly questioned the killing of a U.S. citizen and urged transparency from DHS.
President Donald Trump now faces pressure to balance demands for accountability with loyalty to his political base. On Monday, he dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee ICE operations and serve as the administration’s main point of contact on the ground.
What Happens Next
Minnesota authorities have opened an investigation into Pretti’s death, while civil rights groups are pushing for a broader federal inquiry.
As political pressure mounts and protests continue, the future of Greg Bovino—and the direction of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration—remains uncertain.
