Tensions in the Twin Cities flared this weekend as Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino took to the airwaves to address the eviction of federal agents from local hotels and the ongoing standoff with city officials. Speaking on Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show” Sunday, Bovino painted a chaotic picture of the situation on the ground, alleging mistreatment of DHS personnel and slamming Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
The controversy centers on reports that agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were abruptly told to vacate their lodgings at the St. Paul Downtown DoubleTree and the InterContinental shortly before noon.
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Bovino described the explanations given to his team as rife with “inconsistencies.”
“The messaging given to our agents was very inconsistent. No reason given, just that you needed to be out,” Bovino stated. He noted that, despite the eviction notices, his staff found the hotel was still accepting reservations from the general public, raising questions about the true motivation behind the move.
Reports surfaced that hotel staff had faced threats for housing the agents, a claim Bovino said he hadn’t personally verified regarding staff specifically, though he confirmed the hostile environment extends to property damage. He described instances of “anarchists” slashing tires and vandalizing vehicles belonging to agents—or anyone merely suspected of being associated with them.
The friction isn’t limited to private businesses. The Commander reserved his harshest criticism for Mayor Jacob Frey. In a clip played during the segment, Frey defended his refusal to cooperate with immigration officials, arguing that the city does not partner to “yank random people off the street” based on appearance.
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Bovino fired back immediately, labeling the mayor’s characterization a “flat-out lie.”
He argued that federal operations are laser-focused on individuals already held in jails for other crimes—people he says will “continue to prey on Americans” if released. “He refuses. They’ve always refused,” Bovino said of the city’s leadership. “Because of that… we’re now in the communities taking those criminal illegal aliens off the streets.”
Despite the friction and a recent court ruling regarding the use of crowd-control measures, Bovino insisted that agents retain the ability to use less-lethal munitions like pepper balls and tear gas to protect themselves from physical attacks, which have reportedly included thrown bottles and chunks of ice.
When asked about the possibility of the Insurrection Act being invoked, Bovino demurred, expressing confidence in the current administration’s monitoring of the situation. He did, however, offer a candid assessment of the protesters he faces in Minnesota compared to other major cities.
“They’re very well organized… but they’re a bit softer here in Minnesota than they were, say, in Chicago or Los Angeles,” Bovino observed, concluding with a slight smirk. “So we’re going to keep a close eye on those softies.”
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