Gregory Bovino, a senior US border patrol official known for his hardline stance, has been removed from his frontline role in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. The White House, facing intense backlash, appears to be shifting its approach, with Bovino becoming an early casualty of the administration's efforts to change its posture.
Bovino, 55, had risen to prominence as a figurehead of immigration crackdowns in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. However, his provocative comments after the shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old American citizen, by border patrol officers drew widespread criticism. Bovino claimed Pretti intended to 'massacre law enforcement,' a statement contradicted by mounting video evidence.
The Department of Homeland Security suspended Bovino's access to his social media account on Monday, a stark illustration of his sudden fall from grace. Tom Homan, Trump's 'border czar,' has been sent to oversee operations in Minneapolis.
Bovino had previously been criticised by a US district judge in Chicago for lying under oath, with his testimony dismissed as 'not credible.' He also faced scrutiny for his appearance, which German media likened to fascist aesthetics, and for his handling of the detention of a five-year-old boy in Texas.
