Trump administration silences Gregory Bovino on social media

Gregory Bovino’s departure from the federal operation in Minneapolis was followed by the suspension of his social media activity, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security who spoke to the national press. The commander of the Border Patrol, who became one of the most visible faces of Donald Trump’s second-term immigration offensive, stopped posting on X almost at the same time he was relieved of his deployment in Minnesota, amid the crisis sparked by the death of Alex Pretti during a federal operation.

As commander, Bovino has led Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations in cities governed by Democrats. In recent months, he has led deployments in Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and most recently, Minneapolis. At each destination, he took on a central role as spokesperson, offering daily press conferences and publicly defending the aggressive tactics of federal forces.

That prominence also extended to social media. From his X account, Bovino responded to journalists, attacked Democratic lawmakers, and spread messages about migrant arrests, often using confrontational language. His last public message, posted on Monday morning, celebrated the arrest of a man he described as a “convicted sexual predator.” Since then, the account has been inactive.

According to officials quoted by various media outlets, the decision to suspend his access to social media was not made by the White House, but by his superiors at Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A Department of Homeland Security official indicated that Bovino will regain control of his accounts once he returns to his previous position in El Centro, California, where he served as sector chief and where he is expected to retire soon.

The silence on his social media coincided with confirmation that Bovino had been removed from his position in Minnesota. His departure is the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration is reconsidering its strategy following the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis last weekend.

Hours after the shooting, Bovino appeared before the press and backed the official version of the Department of Homeland Security, which claimed that Pretti had attempted to attack the agents with a gun. However, videos released later showed no evidence that the man had drawn a weapon or posed an immediate threat. The images show one of the agents disarming him moments before another shoots him in the back.

Local authorities, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, strongly questioned the federal response and accused the government of manipulating the account of events. Protests intensified, and the case became a new focus of criticism against ICE and Border Patrol operations.

As a result, Trump announced a change of command in Minnesota and the dispatch of Tom Homan, former director of ICE and current border czar, to take control of the operation. In subsequent statements, Trump described Bovino’s departure as “a little change,” and although he praised him as “really good,” he acknowledged that his style “maybe” was not appropriate for the situation. He has also changed his tone regarding Pretti’s death and has called for an “honest investigation.”

The suspension of Bovino’s social media accounts fueled speculation about internal punishment. In Trump’s circle, where social media has become a central tool of political power, the loss of public visibility is seen as a significant punishment. Several of the president’s allies avoided commenting on the case. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, was one of the few who did, calling the decision “terrible.”

For months, Bovino had operated with unusual autonomy within federal agencies, according to veteran ICE and CBP officials quoted in the press. His carefully crafted image, both in public appearances and on the internet, made him a symbol of the administration’s tougher immigration strategy. His rapid and quiet downfall could mark a shift in the enforcement of Trump’s immigration policy.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition