Border Patrol head Bovino and some agents leaving Minnesota, Walz, Frey say
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Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino is reportedly set to leave Minnesota. Photo: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and some federal agents will begin leaving Minnesota on Tuesday, according to local leaders and multiple media reports.
Why it matters: It's the clearest of several signs yet that President Trump is open to de-escalating the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, days after federal officials shot and killed a second state resident.
Driving the news: Reports of the pullback came hours after Trump and Gov. Tim Walz had a "productive" phone call on the situation in Minnesota.
- Walz said the president told him about plans to send former ICE director Tom Homan to the state and pledged to "do things differently."
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement that he also spoke to Trump and that "some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow."
What they're saying: "There's a definite change of tone," Walz said. "There's a definitely a more collaborative tone."
Zoom in: In a radio interview, Walz said the president agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents on the ground and speak to Homeland Security about cooperating with an independent state investigation into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
- Trump said on Truth Social that he and Walz "seemed to be on a similar wavelength" and that the governor "'understood" the administration's desire to get access to undocumented "criminals" already in custody in Minnesota.
The intrigue: Walz told MPR News his impression was that the president didn't realize before their call that Minnesota's Department of Corrections already complies with ICE's request to notify them before releasing undocumented inmates from state prisons.
- "I think once [Trump] heard that from me, he's like, 'Well, that's helpful,'" Walz said.
Zoom out: Earlier Monday, Trump also announced that he sent Homan to Minneapolis, saying Homan will "report directly to me."
- Trump said Walz was "happy" with the news, and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) welcomed Homan's arrival as an "opportunity for a reset."
When asked if the president agreed with top deputies labeling Pretti a domestic terrorist and insisting without evidence that he was out to harm agents, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said, "I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way."
- On whether top officials jumped too quickly to conclusions, she said the president "wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead in this case."