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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Social media users associated with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have expressed their support for Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino amid conflicting reports he might leave Minneapolis.
On Monday, several publications and outlets including CNN and the Associated Press, citing anonymous sources, reported that Bovino, chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector in Southern California may leave the Minnesota city in the wake of Alex Pretti's death.
However, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded to reports on X Monday evening, stating: "Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Greg Bovino is a key part of the President's team and a great American."
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Amid this confusion, MAGA figures took to X to show their support for Bovino.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration has been under pressure after Pretti, an intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot dead by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota on Saturday during a federal immigration enforcement operation.
His killing was the second fatal shooting by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis this month, following the January 7 death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent during another enforcement action.
What To Know
Pretti was shot when he was filming the activities of ICE officers in Minneapolis. Homeland Security officials said he had a firearm and had resisted immigration officer's attempts to disarm him, but eyewitnesses and Pretti's family have challenged that narrative.
Bovino told CNN that Pretti was a suspect who "injected himself into a law enforcement action" attempting to detain an "illegal alien that was nearby." He previously said Pretti intended to "massacre law enforcement" agents and do "maximum damage."
The intervention from MAGA figures shows the extent to which their are splits within the political right about the events in Minneapolis. While some Republicans are calling for an investigation into Pretti's death and high-profile right-wing politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene speaking out against it, Trump will have to walk a tightrope in appeasing GOP politicians while not alienating his MAGA base.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty wrote on X: "BORDER COMMANDER GREG BOVINO IS A HERO!" An account called MAGA Voice which has 1.4 million followers wrote: "I STRONGLY SUPPORT GREG BOVINO."
Gunther Eagleman, another MAGA account with 1.6 million followers replied: "Makes 2 of us."
On Monday, President Donald Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
What People Are Saying
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, on Monday: "Mr. Bovino is a wonderful man and he's a great professional. He is very much going to continue CBP throughout and across the country. Mr. Homan will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis."
Greg Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol said: "This is only the latest attack on law enforcement. Across the country, the men and women of DHS have been attacked, shot at."
DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin, on Monday: "Greg Bovino’s firing should be the first, not the last. An American citizen was murdered this weekend at the hands of federal agents. Donald Trump can hide away at movie screenings of ‘Melania,’ but the American people know he’s behind this campaign of terror and violence.
"And they won’t forget that in the immediate wake of a tragic murder, Trump, JD Vance and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem took to the airwaves to slander the victim and spread lies.
"Trump and Vance should immediately fire Noem, Stephen Miller, and Corey Lewandowski—or else they are sending a clear message to voters that getting murdered for exercising your constitutional rights is acceptable in Trump’s America.”
What Happens Next
Minnesota officials are investigating Pretti's death.
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