A leaked internal memo shows Border Patrol and ICE commanders pushing aggressive, wide‑sweep enforcement tactics that preceded the deaths of Americans in Minneapolis and sparked nationwide outrage. Reporting from multiple news outlets confirms the memo’s existence and the deadly consequences of federal immigration operations.
The memo, authored by Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol commander later removed from his post, criticized acting ICE Director Todd Lyons for preferring targeted operations and demanded broader sweeps. Bovino referred to the plan as “Operation Midway Blitz”, which led to 1,600 arrests and multiple fatalities.
Agents carried out aggressive tactics, including gassing protesters, chokeholds, and mass detentions, during these operations. Federal officers pulled citizens, including minors, from homes and vehicles, sometimes without proper cause.
Local lawsuits and street protests exploded in response, fueling public outrage—but that was exactly the point. As demonstrators took to the streets, federal agents seemed emboldened, treating their new mandate like a green light to escalate abuses.
Tragically, the operations resulted in two confirmed deaths of U.S. citizens:
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot during an enforcement action on January 24, 2026 —the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. Renée Good, 37, a mother of three was killed in an ICE operation earlier in January 2026.
Public video footage contradicts initial official claims and triggered nationwide outrage.
The leaked memo highlights fractured command structures. Bovino claimed he reported not to Lyons but to Corey Lewandowski, an aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, illustrating irregular decision-making that allowed aggressive enforcement to proceed with minimal oversight.
DHS has suspended Bovino’s access to official communications, and Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed “border czar,” replaced him. Federal and local authorities continue to examine the legality of Operation Midway Blitz, including use-of-force policies and chain-of-command irregularities.
The controversy has sparked calls for accountability, transparency, and a reevaluation of federal enforcement strategy.
