Ex-Border Chief Calls Minneapolis Exit Surrender

Greg Bovino, the former chief of US Customs and Border Protection, described the withdrawal of federal agents from Minneapolis as a "surrender" by the Trump administration. He made these comments during an interview with the BBC conducted in Detroit.

Bovino stated that the administration "threw the towel in," causing deportation efforts to reach a "virtual standstill." He expressed regret for not "going harder" in Minnesota, specifically by arresting more undocumented immigrants. He labeled his officers the "real victims" of what he described as the most violent resistance any law enforcement mission had faced in the United States.

The former official was removed from his post shortly after two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal agents in January. Video footage of both shootings sparked protests and criticism across party lines. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered the de-escalation of the operation, resulting in the departure of approximately 700 agents from the state.

Tom Homan, designated by the White House as the "border tsar," assumed control of the Minneapolis operation following Bovino's departure. Bovino said he did not have a definitive explanation for his removal, noting, "You'd have to ask the administration. I still haven't gotten the final word on that." Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary at the time, was fired by President Trump in March.

Good's family filed two civil lawsuits against the administration earlier this month. The filings allege wrongful death and a conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. The suits name Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good, for their individual roles in the operation. The legal team argues the strategy created an "unprecedented environment for state-sponsored violence." A White House spokeswoman previously dismissed the claims as "baseless."

Bovino dismissed the legal action, stating that people file lawsuits frequently. In response, the family's attorneys said Bovino was "spewing propaganda" and could not serve as "judge, jury and executioner." They stated they look forward to the depositions of Bovino and other defendants.

Bovino maintained that video evidence did not undermine his claim that Good and Pretti intended to harm agents. He argued that violence was perpetrated against government officials and that citizens must follow the law to avoid consequences. President Trump initially characterized Good's actions as violent and willful but later referred to her death as a "tragedy." Bovino has since retired and is campaigning for stricter immigration enforcement, including military support.

He suggested he might "explore" a presidential run in 2028 if politicians do not fulfill their duties. He recently spoke at a far-right rally in Michigan where activists called for the deportation of Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed, a US-born Democrat, is running for the US Senate against Republican Mike Rogers.