The Department of Homeland Security pushed back Monday against reports claiming Border Patrol Chief and CBP operational commander Gregory Bovino had been relieved of duty.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin directly rejected the claim in a post on X.
“Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties,” McLaughlin wrote. “As @PressSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.” Apparently, rumors travel faster than facts these days.
The denial followed multiple reports suggesting Bovino had been sidelined after a Border Patrol agent-involved shooting left Alex Pretti, 37, dead. McLaughlin did not clarify whether Bovino would remain in Minnesota to oversee the high-profile operation in Minneapolis, where two locals have been killed by federal agents amid riots involving far-left radicals.
Conservative journalist Nick Sortor claimed he had “exclusively learned” that Bovino had been relieved of duty.
“MAJOR BREAKING: Gregory Bovino has now been RELIEVED OF DUTY as Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol, I’ve exclusive learned,” Sortor wrote.
Adding fuel to the speculation, a DHS official and two people with knowledge of the situation reportedly told The Atlantic that Bovino would return to his former post in El Centro, California.
“Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol ‘commander at large’ and will return to his former job in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon,” the report stated.
The report described this alleged move as the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration was reconsidering aggressive tactics after the killing of Pretti by agents under Bovino’s command.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump addressed the situation in a Truth Social post, saying he had spoken with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and that the two leaders were “on a similar wavelength.”
“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota,” Trump wrote. “It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession.”
While media reports clash and speculation swirls, DHS is standing firmly behind Bovino and the administration is signaling cooperation with state leadership. With coordination improving and clarity emerging, the focus remains on restoring order and enforcing the law — a strong and positive step toward stability and public safety.
