Border Tactics: Bovino Labels Minneapolis Withdrawal a Surrender

Greg Bovino, the former US Border Patrol chief who led the controversial deportation effort in Minneapolis, called the recent withdrawal of federal agents a surrender. In a BBC interview conducted in Detroit, Bovino stated that the administration threw in the towel and allowed deportations to reach a virtual standstill. He expressed regret for not pushing harder to arrest more individuals in Minnesota.

Bovino, 56, defended his strategy while acknowledging that his agents faced what he described as the most violence of any law enforcement mission in US history. He rejected the idea that video evidence contradicted his claim that Renee Good and Alex Pretti intended to harm officers. Bovino maintained that violence was perpetrated against US government agents and that the public must follow the law to avoid consequences.

The former chief addressed the legal fallout from the operation, specifically the civil lawsuits filed by Good's family earlier this month. The suits allege wrongful death and a conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of protesters. Bovino said he was not responding to the lawsuits directly, noting that people file legal actions frequently. He praised the officers involved in the Minneapolis operation as the real victims.

Context for Bovino's comments stems from the removal of approximately 700 immigration agents from the state in January. President Trump announced a plan to de-escalate after Good and Pretti were shot and killed. Both incidents were captured on video, leading to bipartisan backlash and protests. Tom Homan, the White House border tsar, took over the operation after the withdrawal.

Bovino's legal team for Good's family responded to his interview by accusing him of spouting propaganda. The lawyers stated that Bovino cannot serve as judge, jury, and executioner in the case. They indicated that their team looks forward to taking depositions from Bovino and other defendants, including Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good.

The former chief, who has since retired from the Border Patrol, is currently campaigning for tougher immigration enforcement. He has proposed total spectrum immigration enforcement backed by the military and claimed that 100 million people are in the US illegally. Bovino also mentioned he is exploring a potential presidential run in 2028 if current politicians fail to act.