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The U.S. Border Patrol official who led a controversial federal law enforcement surge in Chicago is planning to leave the city with his agents, with sources indicating a potential redeployment to cities in the southern United States. Gregory Bovino, a top Border Patrol official, and the agents under his command are expected to depart Chicago as soon as this week, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the internal plans.
The move concludes a months-long federal initiative known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” which saw more than 200 Border Patrol agents deployed to Chicago to increase immigration arrests. The operation was marked by a significant law enforcement presence and clashes with protesters, leading to litigation and public scrutiny. Bovino has been described as a key figure in the administration's broader strategy to use federal agents for interior immigration enforcement.
According to reports, the agents are not being withdrawn but are being reassigned to other metropolitan areas to continue similar enforcement activities. The next likely destinations for these federal units are Charlotte, North Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana. News outlets in North Carolina have confirmed that federal agents are expected in the state for targeted immigration enforcement despite potential pushback from local officials.
This strategy of deploying federal teams to cities, sometimes without the explicit approval of local leaders, has been a recurring theme. The planned shift has already drawn attention in the destination cities, where previous federal immigration operations have faced local opposition. The redeployment signals a continuation of the administration’s focus on interior enforcement, moving highly visible and specialized units from one urban center to another.
