ap | Im Dispute over the operations of federal authorities in Minnesota, which were marred by fatal incidents President Donald Trump’s administration now appears to be giving in. The controversial commander of the Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, who is responsible for border security, is scheduled to leave the city of Minneapolis along with some federal officials on Tuesday, as the AP news agency learned from informed circles. Bovino is at the center of the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on migrants in cities across the country.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the withdrawal of some federal officers involved in raids by the border patrol agency CBP and the immigration agency ICE. Frey said he asked Trump in a phone call to stop the authorities’ activities in the city. Trump agreed with him that the current situation cannot continue like this. Some of the officers would be leaving Minneapolis starting Tuesday, Frey said. He will continue to work to ensure that others also have to go.
After his verbal attacks on leading Democrats in the state of Minnesota, Trump struck a surprisingly gentle tone. He wrote on social media that he had a good conversation with Frey and: “A lot of progress is being made!”
Trump sees himself and Walz on a “similar wavelength”
Trump also spoke to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on the phone on Monday. “We actually seemed to be on the same wavelength,” Trump wrote in a post afterwards. Walz said the conversation with Trump was “productive.” It is necessary to impartially investigate the recent shooting incidents in Minneapolis, the governor emphasized. Trump said his administration was looking for “all kinds of” criminals in the custody of authorities in Minnesota. Walz countered that the state corrections department complies with federal requests about people in state custody.
Just the day before, Trump had accused Democrats in Minnesota of causing “chaos” that resulted in the deaths of two American citizens. In early January, 37-year-old Renée Nicole Good was shot in her car by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. On Saturday, a nurse of the same age, Alex Pretti, came there was killed by a Border Patrol agent’s gunshots as residents protested against ICE and CBP’s crackdown on migrants.
Sharp criticism of Bovino
The Pretti case sparked outrage across the country, including among Trump’s Republican camp. Criticism was primarily directed at Bovino’s portrayal of the incident, who publicly defended the shooter’s actions, described his men as the actual “victims” and blamed the man killed for the escalation. In cell phone videos from eyewitnesses, Pretti can be seen holding a cell phone in his hand shortly before he was shot. There is no weapon in his hand in any of the shots. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a license to carry a gun.
Bovino has led raids on suspected irregular migrants that sparked mass protests in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis. The operations were often staged by the federal authorities with dramatic images, so that the Border Patrol commander is now seen as the face of Trump’s tough migration policy. The Border Patrol is the police force of the border protection agency CBP and, like ICE, reports to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump sent his border patrol agent Tom Homan to Minnesota on Monday. He will report to him directly, Trump wrote on social media. According to government information, Homan will lead ICE’s operations in the state in the future and will be “the main contact on site in Minneapolis.” Mayor Frey announced a meeting with Homan on Tuesday.