Customs and Border Protection commander-at-large Greg Bovino is reported to be returning to El Centro, California, to resume his role as chief of the sector, multiple sources told ABC News on January 26, 2026. The move follows a period in which Bovino and several Border Patrol agents were operating in Minneapolis, a deployment that coincided with two recent federal agent-involved shootings in the city. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement on Monday saying Bovino “has NOT been relieved of his duties,” and federal leadership is managing personnel shifts as political and legal scrutiny intensifies. The reassignment comes as President Donald Trump sent Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, a step that the White House described as a direct reporting line to the president.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple sources told ABC News on January 26, 2026, that Greg Bovino will return to his position as chief of the El Centro sector after serving temporarily as a commander-at-large.
- DHS official Tricia McLaughlin said publicly that Bovino “has NOT been relieved of his duties,” describing him as a central part of the administration team.
- Bovino and some Border Patrol agents are departing Minneapolis as Tom Homan arrives to oversee federal operations there at President Trump’s directive.
- The Minneapolis deployment occurred amid at least two federal agent-involved fatal shootings this month, including the deaths of Renee Nicole Good (Jan. 7) and Alex Pretti (recent weekend incident).
- DHS has alleged Pretti approached agents with a 9mm semi-automatic and resisted disarmament; local officials dispute that account and ABC News-reviewed video does not clearly show a firearm being drawn.
- White House and DHS officials have publicly defended federal agents’ actions; local authorities and some video evidence raise contradictory accounts that have prompted public and legal scrutiny.
Background
The El Centro sector in California is a long-established Border Patrol jurisdiction that oversees a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border and manages significant operational resources and personnel. A sector chief is responsible for day-to-day enforcement operations, resource allocation and liaison with local law enforcement and community stakeholders; Bovino has held that role prior to his temporary assignment as a commander-at-large. The commander-at-large post is typically temporary and deployed for discrete incidents or cross-jurisdictional tasks, allowing senior leaders to be assigned to hotspots as needed.
In January 2026, Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations drew national attention after several federal interventions in Minneapolis. The city saw two fatal, federal agent-involved shootings this month, and those incidents have intensified debate over federal tactics, jurisdictional authority and civilian oversight. Political leadership has been visibly engaged: President Trump announced the dispatch of Tom Homan to Minneapolis and senior administration meetings in Washington have followed concerns raised by the incidents and local reactions.
Main Event
On January 26, 2026, multiple sources informed ABC News that Greg Bovino would leave his temporary post and resume his prior duties as chief of the El Centro Border Patrol sector. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin released a statement emphasizing that Bovino had not been removed from his posts and describing him as an important member of the administration’s team. The reporting indicates the commander-at-large role was temporary and that personnel are being realigned following the Minneapolis deployment.
Bovino’s movement comes as Border Czar Tom Homan arrived in Minneapolis at President Trump’s direction. The president indicated Homan would bypass the usual chain of command and report directly to him, a step the White House framed as placing an experienced federal manager on the ground. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has been overseeing ICE operations in the city alongside Bovino, met with the president on Monday in Washington; press reporting indicated the meeting lasted almost two hours and was at Noem’s request.
The personnel shifts were set against intense scrutiny of two recent shootings. Department of Homeland Security officials alleged Alex Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and “violently resisted” when agents attempted to disarm him. State and local officials dispute that characterization, noting Pretti held a concealed carry permit; ABC News reviewed and verified video that does not appear to show Pretti drawing a gun and instead shows him holding up a phone to record agents. Earlier in the month, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement was connected to the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good during an immigration operation, underscoring the heightened tensions around federal enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Analysis & Implications
The reported return of Bovino to El Centro and the arrival of Tom Homan to Minneapolis reflect competing priorities: normalizing sector leadership at the border while managing a politically combustible law-enforcement response in a major city. Reassigning senior officials can be intended to restore routine command at the border and limit operational disruption, but it also signals political involvement at the highest levels. When the president directs an official to report directly to him, it raises questions about regular command protocols and how field operations are coordinated with departmental leadership.
Operational morale and local relations are likely to be affected. Agents deployed away from their sectors can face fatigue and ambiguity over mission goals; communities subjected to federal operations often express alarm and demand broader oversight. In Minneapolis, contrasting official narratives—federal assertions of a suspect wielding a firearm versus local claims and video suggesting a recording—create both a legal and public-relations challenge for DHS, ICE and Border Patrol.
Legally, the incidents could prompt internal reviews, inspector general inquiries or state-level investigations depending on how prosecutors and oversight bodies assess the use of force. Politically, the events deepen partisan divides over federal immigration enforcement and the appropriate scope of federal intervention in local policing contexts. For the El Centro sector, restoring a familiar chief could stabilize routine border operations, but the broader leadership shuffle highlights how domestic incidents can ripple into border management decisions.
Comparison & Data
| Incident | Date | Agency Involved | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renee Nicole Good shooting | January 7, 2026 | ICE | Fatal; under scrutiny |
| Alex Pretti shooting | Weekend prior to Jan. 26, 2026 | Border Patrol / federal agents | Fatal; conflicting accounts and video review |
The table above summarizes the two federal agent-involved fatal shootings connected to recent federal operations in Minneapolis. Both incidents occurred in January 2026 and have prompted overlapping inquiries and public debate. The proximity of these events has amplified calls for transparency, independent review, and clearer coordination between federal law enforcement and local authorities.
Reactions & Quotes
“He has NOT been relieved of his duties,”
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary (official statement)
McLaughlin’s remark was cited by DHS to counter any narrative that Bovino had been removed; the statement framed him as a continuing part of the administration’s operational leadership.
“Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,”
President Donald Trump (social media post)
The president’s post announced Homan’s deployment and emphasized a direct reporting relationship to the White House, a departure from standard departmental chains of command.
“State and local officials say Pretti was lawfully carrying a gun with a concealed carry permit,”
State/local officials (local authorities)
Local authorities highlighted that Pretti held a concealed-carry permit and disputed DHS descriptions of his conduct; verified video reviewed by ABC News added complexity to the differing accounts.
Unconfirmed
- DHS’s claim that Alex Pretti drew or fired a 9mm semi-automatic remains disputed; video reviewed by ABC News does not clearly show a gun being drawn.
- Whether Bovino’s reassignment has completed formal administrative paperwork or is still in operational transition has not been independently verified beyond multiple sources’ reporting.
- The extent to which Tom Homan’s direct reporting to the president alters formal operational authority in Minneapolis has not been publicly documented in department orders.
Bottom Line
The reported return of Greg Bovino to the El Centro chief role and the redeployment of personnel from Minneapolis reflect both routine staffing adjustments and extraordinary political intervention. Officials portray personnel moves as administrative and temporary, but they occur amid highly charged public scrutiny after two fatal, federal agent-involved shootings in Minneapolis in January 2026.
Key questions remain about use-of-force details, the proper coordination between federal and local authorities, and how presidential directives reshape operational command. Independent reviews and transparent release of investigative findings will be central to resolving conflicting accounts and restoring public confidence in both local safety and federal immigration enforcement operations.
Sources
- ABC News (news organization; reporting and verified video review)