CNN reported Greg Bovino told Minnesota prosecutors he would "lock this city down" with 3,000 agents — and 4,000 more if needed — after the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good.
The call came before agents fatally shot a second protester, Alex Pretti, on Jan. 24, and a prosecutor warned afterward, "They're going to kill someone else."
Bovino was pressing prosecutors to charge protesters with assaults on federal officers, but sources told CNN many cases collapsed when evidence showed agents' accounts were false.
The former Border Patrol chief, 56, had been sent to oversee immigration raids that triggered Twin Cities protests; he was later demoted by Kristi Noem and retired in March.
Bovino denied antisemitism over his "chosen people" remark about U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and said he was only frustrated, while DHS defended Good's shooting and said Pretti's case remains under investigation.
With federal evidence finally released, will the agents involved in the two fatal shootings now face local justice?
A judge had already ruled him a liar. Why was he then put in charge of the Minneapolis operation?
After the $700M economic fallout in Minneapolis, what prevents similar federal operations from targeting other American cities?
Operation Metro Surge: The 2025–2026 Minneapolis Immigration Crackdown—Tactics, Human Cost, and Political Fallout
Overview
Operation Metro Surge, launched by the Trump administration in December 2025, marked a major escalation in nationwide immigration enforcement. Spearheaded by Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide, the operation focused on Minneapolis, where the Department of Homeland Security mobilized agents for an aggressive 'show of force' rather than targeted actions. Gregory Bovino, known for his harsh tactics, led the operation in the city, embodying the administration's confrontational approach. This strategy resulted in widespread controversy, public outcry, and significant human and political consequences, ultimately leading to leadership changes and ongoing debates about accountability and civil liberties.