Greg Bovino, head of the US Border Patrol, is set to lead some agents in departing Minnesota 'imminently' following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday. The order affects only a portion of those stationed in the city and stops short of a full withdrawal, whilst Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations remain unaffected.
The partial retreat comes amid spiralling tensions following two fatal shootings of US citizens by federal agents this month. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot after being tackled and disarmed by Border Patrol agents during a confrontation, whilst Renée Good, a mother of three, was killed by an ICE agent on 7 January. Both deaths have fuelled protests against federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, leaving families shattered and politicians divided.
