Behind Alex Pretti’s project files lies a secret that has just come to light. According to a hospital employee, a crucial detail, never before mentioned by authorities, was handed over to the victim’s family. This could very well be the final piece of the puzzle that reverses the entire current investigation.

One of President Donald Trump’s top immigration enforcers in Minneapolis is stepping away after recent violence by federal agents sparked national outrage.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, multiple outlets reported that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, as well as some top Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, are set to depart the embattled Midwestern city in the coming days.

Bovino, 55, has been the face of the Minneapolis ICE operation in recent weeks, which has seen the shooting deaths of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and 37-year-old mother of three Renee Good by federal agents — as well as the combative protests that followed.

In both cases, Bovino aggressively defended the actions of his officers, joining Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in accusing Pretti — a lawful gun owner — of attempting to attack Border Patrol agents.

“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” he said at the time, despite multiple video angles showing that Pretti was holding a cell phone, not a gun, and that Border Patrol agents disarmed him before shooting him at point-blank range.

Alex Pretti, the man who was shot and killed by federal officers in Minneapolis, is being remembered by his high school friend as a non-violent individual.

Bovino also raised eyebrows during his time in Minneapolis for marching the streets alongside ICE officers, unmasked and occasionally wearing an army-green greatcoat that drew comparisons to the uniforms of Nazi officers during World War II.

Bovino didn’t appreciate the comparison, warning in a Jan. 26 press conference: “Calling law enforcement names like Gestapo, or using the term ‘kidnapping,’ that is a choice that is made. There are actions and consequences that come from those choices.”

US Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino (C) stands flanked by fellow federal agents during a protest against ICE outside the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino flanked by federal agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 15, 2026.Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty

The Atlantic reported that Bovino will return to his post in El Centro, Calif., where he is Commander Op At Large of that sector.

Meanwhile, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin insisted in an X post, “Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As @PressSec stated from the White House podium, @CMDROpAtLargeCA is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.”

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Following Bovino’s departure, Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, will become the president’s point person on the ground in Minneapolis and report to him directly, rather than Noem. Trump announced the news in a Jan. 26 Truth Social post.

“I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,” Trump said. “He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”

Promising to continue to crack down on the “20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota,” and the finances of his frequent target, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Trump continued, “Time will tell all.”

After announcing Homan was headed to Minnesota, Trump also seemed to walk back the vitriol he had previously expressed for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, posting on Truth Social that he’d had “successful” calls with both of the Democratic leaders.

“Lots of progress is being made!” Trump posted after his conversation with Frey. “Tom Homan will be meeting with him tomorrow in order to continue the discussion.”

However, the president has continued to insist upon maintaining a federal presence in Minneapolis, and was quick to defend ICE when asked on Jan. 20 about Good’s death two weeks before Pretti was also shot and killed.

“They’re gonna make mistakes sometimes,” he said. “ICE is gonna be too rough with somebody or- you know, they’re dealing with rough people. They’re gonna make a mistake sometimes. It can happen.”