Politics January 26, 2026

U.S. Border Patrol 'Commander at Large' Gregory Bovino Removed, Will Return to California Post - The Atlantic

Bovino to resume previous California assignment and is expected to retire soon amid tensions over a deportation operation in Minneapolis

By Derek Hwang
U.S. Border Patrol 'Commander at Large' Gregory Bovino Removed, Will Return to California Post - The Atlantic

Gregory Bovino has been taken out of his assignment as the U.S. Border Patrol's "commander at large" and will go back to his former position in California, with reports indicating he is expected to retire soon. The move was reported by The Atlantic, which cited a Department of Homeland Security official and two individuals with knowledge of the change. Federal agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signaled a conciliatory tone following a private call about immigration enforcement tied to a deportation operation that has been linked to the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

Key Points

  • Gregory Bovino has been removed from his post as the U.S. Border Patrol's "commander at large" and will return to his previous role in California.
  • The Atlantic reported the change, citing a DHS official and two people with knowledge of the decision; federal agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
  • President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signaled a conciliatory tone after a private call about immigration enforcement tied to a deportation operation that has been linked to the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis - indicating efforts to resolve their standoff.
  • Sectors likely affected include government operations and law enforcement agencies involved in immigration and border security.

Gregory Bovino has been relieved of his role as the U.S. Border Patrol's "commander at large" and will return to the position he previously held in California, The Atlantic reported on Monday. The outlet attributed the information to a Department of Homeland Security official and two people with knowledge of the personnel change.

The report said Bovino is expected to retire shortly after resuming his earlier post in California. The move follows recent tensions around immigration enforcement actions that drew national attention.

Requests for comment sent to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the White House did not receive immediate replies, according to the report.

Separately, earlier on Monday President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz each adopted a more conciliatory tone after holding a private telephone conversation about immigration enforcement. The shift in tone between the two leaders was described in the report as an indication that both sides were seeking a resolution to their standoff over a deportation operation.

The deportation drive at the center of the standoff has been connected to the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, the report said. That fact was cited as part of the context for the discussions between federal and state officials.


Context and reporting

The Atlantic's account relied on one DHS official and two other people who had knowledge of the personnel decision. The report did not include an immediate response from federal agencies, as noted above.

What remains unclear

The report indicates Bovino will return to his former California assignment and is expected to retire soon, but no specific timeline for the retirement was provided in the reporting cited.

This article presents the facts as reported by The Atlantic, including the cited sources and the statements that federal agencies did not immediately comment.

Risks

  • Leadership uncertainty within Border Patrol operations - the change in Bovino's post could contribute to near-term disruption in border security management, affecting government operations.
  • Political and operational tensions between federal and state officials - the standoff over the deportation operation that has been linked to two deaths creates uncertainty for coordination on immigration enforcement.
  • Limited transparency in the immediate aftermath - federal agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving timelines and details about Bovino's return and retirement unclear.

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