UPDATE: Former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino has been spotted driving westward following his removal amid significant backlash over the fatal shooting of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Just announced, Bovino is reportedly returning to his previous base in California, marking a dramatic retreat that has captured national attention.
The political storm surrounding Pretti’s death has intensified, prompting the deployment of Tom Homan, Trump’s ‘border czar’, to Minneapolis to manage the escalating fallout. As Bovino makes his way back, observers are closely monitoring his movements, which have become a public spectacle.
On Tuesday evening, Bovino checked into a hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he paused his journey. The following morning, he recorded a video message in front of the iconic Mount Rushmore, expressing solidarity with his agents. In the video, which was shared on X by conservative influencer Nick Sortor, Bovino attempted to rally support for his ‘mean green machine’, despite his physical absence from the mission.
Bovino stated, “Team, behind me are a few individuals there. That’s the original ‘Turn and Burn’, the folks that help make America.” He controversially compared his agents to the presidents immortalized on Mount Rushmore, a remark that has drawn sharp criticism amid ongoing scrutiny of federal officers’ actions.
The former chief’s journey has not been without incident. As he continued west into Wyoming, Bovino faced a mixed reception. A local resident captured footage of Bovino’s convoy departing from a hotel, noting he was carrying a rifle and waving to onlookers. However, tensions flared during a stop in Rock Springs, where Wyoming Highway Patrol had to intervene due to a disturbance involving a small group of protesters.
According to a source close to the situation, Bovino’s exit followed the public uproar from Pretti’s death, which was captured on video and showed him trying to de-escalate a confrontation between federal officers and a woman. Pretti was shot multiple times after being disarmed, and two Border Patrol agents involved have since been placed on a three-day administrative leave.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not commented on Bovino’s journey home, but an official previously stated that his departure from Minneapolis was a “mutual decision.” This incident has reignited scrutiny of Bovino, who narrowly avoided retirement earlier this year after posting a controversial photo with an assault rifle.
As Bovino drives further west, the situation remains fluid. Homan’s response in Minneapolis will be pivotal in determining the next steps for federal enforcement in the area, as tensions continue to simmer in the wake of Pretti’s tragic death.
The emotional toll of these events has left many local residents and federal agents on edge, making clear that the implications of this situation extend far beyond just one individual’s departure. As Bovino moves toward California, eyes remain on the unfolding developments as the nation grapples with the consequences of this high-profile case.
