Bovino Labels Minneapolis Withdrawal 'Surrender' as Families Sue for Wrongful Death

Greg Bovino, the former chief of US border patrol, characterized the recent reduction of immigration agents in Minneapolis as a "surrender" by the current administration. He made these remarks during an interview with the BBC, where he defended the tactics used during the early 2026 deportation operation.

The operation concluded with the departure of approximately 700 agents from the state. This withdrawal followed the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in January. Both incidents were captured on video and triggered a bipartisan response that included widespread protests. President Donald Trump subsequently stated he was "going to de-escalate a little bit." Tom Homan, the White House border coordinator, assumed command of the operation after Bovino was removed from his post.

Bovino, now 56 and retired, said he regrets "not going harder in Minnesota and arresting even more illegal aliens." He described his agents as the "real victims" of what he termed the most violence faced by a law enforcement mission in US history. When pressed on video evidence regarding the intent of the deceased, Bovino maintained that violence was perpetrated against government agents. He noted that the society of laws requires citizens to follow legal standards or face consequences.

Legal challenges to the operation are ongoing. In October, Good's family filed two civil suits against the administration. The complaints allege wrongful death and a conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. The lawsuits name senior officials, including Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good. The filings argue the operation created an "unprecedented environment for state-sponsored violence." A White House spokeswoman previously dismissed the claims as "baseless."

Lawyers representing the family responded to Bovino's interview comments by stating he was "spewing propaganda" and could not act as "judge, jury and executioner." They expressed readiness for depositions involving Bovino and other defendants. Bovino suggested he is "exploring" a presidential run in 2028. He stated that if politicians fail to perform their duties, "you might see something happen."

The former chief has advocated for "total spectrum immigration enforcement" supported by the military. He has claimed, without citing specific data, that 100 million people are in the US illegally. A White House spokesperson countered that President Trump has "delivered the largest reduction in illegal immigration in modern history." The administration said more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the country due to these policies.

Kristi Noem, who served as Homeland Security secretary during the operation, was fired by Trump in March. Bovino has not received a final explanation for his own removal from the border patrol role. He recently addressed a far-right rally in Michigan where activists called for the deportation of Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate.