Bovino: Trump Team Surrendered in Minneapolis

Greg Bovino, the former head of the US Border Patrol, stated that the Trump administration surrendered control of the Minneapolis deportation operation. He made the comments during a BBC interview, marking a sharp departure from the White House narrative that the operation was being managed for stability.

The 56-year-old official described the withdrawal of federal forces as the administration throwing in the towel. He said deportations in the city have reached a virtual standstill since the change in command.

Approximately 700 immigration agents left Minnesota following the incident. The pullback occurred shortly after US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead in January. Both deaths were captured on video, triggering bipartisan criticism and widespread protests across the region.

President Donald Trump initially characterized the situation as an escalation, stating he would de-escalate a little bit. Tom Homan, the White House border chief, assumed command of the operation after the agents departed.

Bovino expressed regret for not arresting more individuals during the operation. He referred to the federal officers as the real victims of what he described as the most violence any law enforcement mission had faced in US history.

The former chief defended the use of force by stating that violence was perpetrated against agents of the US government. He argued that in a society of laws, individuals must follow the rules or face consequences. This stance contrasts with President Trump's later comments, where he called Good's death a tragedy and acknowledged that agents sometimes make mistakes.

Good's family filed two civil lawsuits against the administration earlier this month. The suits allege wrongful death and a conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. One lawsuit names Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good, for their individual roles in the operation.

The family's attorneys responded to Bovino's interview by accusing him of spewing propaganda. They stated he could not serve as judge, jury, and executioner while being a defendant in the case. The legal team said it looks forward to deposing Bovino and the other defendants.

Bovino said he has not received a final explanation for his removal from the post. Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary during the operation, was fired by Trump in March. Bovino has since retired from the Border Patrol.

The former chief has advocated for total spectrum immigration enforcement backed by the military. He claimed that 100 million people are in the US illegally, a figure he has presented without new evidence. A White House spokesperson countered that more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the country under current policies.

Bovino said he is exploring a presidential run in 2028. He recently addressed a rally in Michigan where activists called for the deportation of Abdul El-Sayed, a US-born citizen and Democratic Senate candidate.