Minneapolis withdrawal was 'surrender', Trump's ex-border patrol chief tells BBC

Greg Bovino, the former U.S. Border Patrol chief who fronted the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, has told the BBC that pulling agents out of the city amounted to a "surrender." Speaking in Detroit, where he was campaigning for stricter enforcement, he said deportations are now at a virtual standstill and that his only regret is not arresting more people in Minnesota.

The operation unraveled after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in January. Both killings were filmed and prompted bipartisan criticism and large protests. Donald Trump then scaled back the effort, and roughly 700 agents left the state. Bovino was removed, and Tom Homan took over. Bovino said he has not been told why. Asked about the footage, he maintained that agents faced violence and that people must obey the law.

Good's family has filed two civil suits, one naming Bovino and Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot her. Bovino said he was "not responding" and that lawsuits are routine. The family's lawyers accused him of spreading propaganda and said they look forward to deposing him. Bovino also raised the idea of a 2028 presidential bid.

Summarized by PolitiKool from BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at BBC →