Gregory Bovino Returns To El Centro Amid Outcry

Gregory Bovino, a name now synonymous with the nation’s fierce immigration debates, is set to return to El Centro, California, after a tumultuous stint leading federal enforcement in several major U.S. cities. The move, reported by multiple outlets including The New York Times and SFGATE during the week of January 26-29, 2026, follows a period of intense controversy and tragedy in Minneapolis, where federal agents under Bovino’s command were involved in the fatal shootings of two protesters—Alex Jeffrey Pretti and Renee Good—within just a month.

Bovino’s expected reassignment back to his old post as chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector comes on the heels of public outrage over the killing of Pretti on January 24, 2026. According to inewsource, Pretti was the second protester to die at the hands of federal agents deployed to Minneapolis since December, with both incidents sparking widespread criticism of the aggressive tactics employed by immigration officers.

For many across the country, Bovino was hardly a household name before his recent high-profile assignments. After leaving El Centro in 2023, he led Border Patrol operations in cities far from the southern border, including Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and, most recently, Minneapolis. But as protests and clashes followed his deployments, Bovino’s reputation grew—both as a champion of strict enforcement for some, and as a symbol of federal overreach for others.

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, speaking on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), attempted to quell speculation about Bovino’s status on January 27, 2026. In a post on X, she declared, “Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. He is a key part of the President’s team and a great American.” A DHS spokesperson, when reached for comment, referred only to McLaughlin’s statement and declined to elaborate.

The political fallout from the Minneapolis shootings has been swift and severe. President Donald Trump, whose administration has leaned heavily on high-profile immigration crackdowns, announced on January 27 that there would be an investigation into the agents involved in Pretti’s death. He also distanced himself from the initial federal response, describing Bovino’s reassignment as “a little bit of a change” during a Fox News interview, but did not provide specifics. Meanwhile, the two agents involved in the shooting were placed on leave on January 28, and Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, arrived in Minnesota to take over local operations.

Bovino has publicly defended his agents’ actions. According to SFGATE and inewsource, he asserted that Pretti was armed and intended to “inflict maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” further claiming Pretti “violently resisted” officers. However, these assertions have been challenged by eyewitness accounts and video evidence. The New York Times analyzed footage showing agents restraining Pretti on the ground, with one agent removing a gun from Pretti’s waistband before another shot him in the back. Two witnesses told The Guardian that Pretti did not brandish a weapon when approaching the agents, raising questions about the official narrative.

The reaction to Bovino’s impending return to Imperial County has been deeply mixed. Raul Ruiz, Democratic congressman for California’s 25th District, expressed alarm over the enforcement tactics seen under Bovino’s leadership and called for a full investigation into the recent shootings. Ruiz also highlighted concerns from local citizens about racial profiling and harassment by federal agents, stating, “Imperial County should never be treated like a testing ground for extreme tactics that have sparked outrage and tragedy elsewhere.”

Others in the region, such as Calexico police chief Armando Orozco, have taken a more measured approach. Orozco noted that collaboration with Border Patrol is a longstanding reality for border communities like Calexico, and he’s reserving judgment until the Minnesota investigation concludes. “I give him the benefit of the doubt at this point until the investigation’s done with,” Orozco remarked, emphasizing the distinct character of Calexico compared to Minneapolis.

Marina Arteaga, an organizer with the Imperial Liberation Collective, reflected the community’s ambivalence: “What is he gonna do in our community? That is my concern,” she said, while acknowledging that some locals view Bovino as a hero, others as a villain. The region’s nearly 90% Latino population and history of agricultural labor have shaped a complex relationship with federal law enforcement—one that is now being tested anew.

Imperial County, in the southeastern corner of California, is no stranger to the national immigration spotlight. El Centro, the county seat and largest city with a population of 44,322, sits just 30 minutes from Mexicali, Mexico. The area is defined by its unique geography—irrigated farmland surrounded by desert—and its role as a major hub for cross-border commerce. As SFGATE notes, an estimated 50,000 people cross the border daily between Mexicali and Imperial County, for work, family, or shopping.

Despite its agricultural prowess, Imperial County faces persistent economic challenges. The median household income in 2023 was just $56,393, well below the state average, and many residents rely on low-wage farmwork. The expansion of the Border Patrol in the late twentieth century made the agency one of the region’s largest employers, further entwining federal law enforcement with the local economy and daily life.

Political winds in Imperial County have also shifted. In 2024, the county narrowly voted for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris, breaking a Democratic streak that had lasted more than thirty years. The return of a figure like Bovino, who began his Border Patrol career in El Centro in 1996 and rose to prominence during the agency’s rapid growth, is therefore freighted with both local history and national significance.

Bovino’s career has not been without controversy. He was first assigned as chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector in 2020, was temporarily reassigned under the Biden administration, and then reinstated a month later after allegations of political retaliation. His leadership style—marked by high-profile raids and vocal criticism of California’s sanctuary laws—has drawn both praise and condemnation.

Looking ahead, reports from The Atlantic and Sacramento Bee suggest that Bovino, now 55, may soon retire, as Border Patrol agents are typically required to step down by age 57. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, stated on January 26 that Bovino will “continue to lead Customs and Border Patrol throughout and across the country,” leaving the future somewhat uncertain.

For Imperial County residents, the winter season is typically a time for parades and community celebrations. As Bryan Vega, chair of the Imperial County Democratic Party, told SFGATE, “Everything [in the winter] is supposed to be, like, parade season, carnivals. There’s so much happening in the community. And unfortunately, what’s making the headlines is that [Bovino’s] coming back.”

As Bovino prepares to return to the desert city of El Centro, the region—and the country—waits to see whether his presence will bring stability, further controversy, or a new chapter in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in America’s borderlands.