Was Bovino fired

1. What the outlets reporting a removal say

Long-form reporting from The Atlantic and follow-up stories carried by Reuters assert that Bovino was “removed” from the high-profile commander-at-large post and would be reassigned back to his prior El Centro position, framed as a demotion ahead of expected retirement ^{[1] [2]}. Those pieces connect the personnel move directly to political and operational blowback after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and note that Bovino’s public statements and tactics had become politically contentious ^{[1] [2]}.

2. The official denial from DHS and competing statements

At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security pushed back, with a spokesperson saying Bovino “has NOT been relieved of his duties,” and the White House saying he would “continue to lead Customs and Border Patrol” even as other officials were sent to Minnesota ^[3]. That statement created a clear contradiction with reporting that described an ouster or demotion, leaving the question of formal firing unresolved in public records ^[3].

3. Local withdrawal from Minneapolis — the uncontested fact

Independent of whether he was formally fired, multiple local and national outlets reported that Bovino and some Border Patrol agents were departing Minneapolis “imminently” or “on Tuesday,” a move confirmed by CNN, FOX, PBS and local stations and framed as part of a broader shift that included sending Tom Homan to lead operations on the ground ^{[5] [7] [8] [6]}. Minneapolis officials also acknowledged that some federal agents would begin leaving the area, which is an operational fact separate from Bovino’s overall employment status ^[6].

4. Why the narrative split exists — politics, phrasing and sources

The divergent accounts stem from different definitions and sources: The Atlantic and other outlets cited DHS officials and people “with knowledge” saying Bovino was removed or demoted ^[1], while DHS spokespersons and the White House framed any movement as reassignment or continued leadership ^[3]. Political incentives are clear: critics and local officials point to leadership failures to justify removal ^[1], while the administration has motives to present continuity and defend a visible enforcement figure ^{[3] [7]}.

5. Bottom line — was Bovino fired?

Based on the available reporting, it cannot be stated definitively that Bovino was formally fired; reputable outlets report he was removed or demoted from the commander-at-large role and reassigned to El Centro ^{[1] [2]}, but DHS publicly denied he had been relieved of duties and the White House asserted he would continue in leadership roles ^[3]. The clearest, verifiable outcome is that Bovino and some agents were withdrawn from Minneapolis amid controversy ^{[4] [5] [6]}, and that major outlets characterize his role as scaled back or ended even as official spokespeople dispute the characterization ^{[1] [3]}.