Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol head who became the face of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, will retire at the end of the month, two Customs and Border Protection officials told NBC News.

Bovino was removed from his role as CBP commander at large in January and returned to his role as Border Patrol sector chief in El Centro, California. The move came after the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and aggressive immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive critics have long argued that Bovino's enforcement tactics were excessive and dangerous. Representative Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called his approach 'dangerous and reckless' in previous statements. Immigrant rights organizations have accused Bovino of using tactics that target people based on appearance and skin color, leading to lawsuits alleging civil rights violations.

The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, during Bovino's Minneapolis operation drew particular scrutiny. Good was shot three times, including in the head, on Jan. 7 during an encounter with ICE officers. Pretti was killed on Jan. 24 when CBP officers fired their guns multiple times, according to a Department of Homeland Security report.

Civil liberties advocates pointed to a federal judge's findings that Bovino repeatedly lied about threats posed by immigrants and protesters. The judge chastised Bovino after finding he used chemical agents in residential neighborhoods in violation of court orders, and required him to appear in court after video evidence contradicted his claim that he threw a gas canister only after being hit by a rock.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative supporters have defended Bovino as enforcing federal immigration laws as intended by Congress. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas praised Border Patrol agents in previous statements for 'doing their jobs' under challenging circumstances. The White House featured Bovino prominently in promotional materials showcasing the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Trump administration officials argued that Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis and operations in Chicago and Los Angeles were necessary to address public safety concerns. Bovino's supporters noted he was following directives from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, to whom he reported directly.

The administration pointed to Bovino's record of conducting sweeping immigration arrests in cities where local policies limited cooperation with federal authorities. Prior to his national role, Bovino served as Border Patrol sector chief in California's El Centro and Yuma sectors, where he oversaw operations in areas with high volumes of illegal border crossings.

What the Numbers Show

Bovino was one year away from CBP's mandatory retirement age of 57. He became eligible for retirement at the end of his tenure as CBP commander.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, were killed during Bovino's oversight of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. Good was shot three times on Jan. 7. Pretti was killed on Jan. 24.

In Los Angeles, Bovino's operations in the Fashion District and other areas sparked five days of protests, leading Trump to deploy the National Guard and Marines. Prior to his national role, a lawsuit in Kern County, California alleged Bovino's agents targeted people based on appearance and skin color during operations against agricultural workers.

Bovino was chastised by a federal judge for using chemical agents in residential neighborhoods, violating a court order to curb their use. The judge found he repeatedly lied about threats posed by immigrants and protesters.

The Bottom Line

Bovino's retirement coincides with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's last day in the job, marking a significant shift in the administration's immigration enforcement leadership. His tenure was marked by aggressive tactics that drew both support from immigration hardliners and criticism from civil liberties advocates and Democratic lawmakers.

The two civilian deaths during his Minneapolis operation remain under scrutiny, as does the ongoing litigation alleging civil rights violations in California. Watch for how his successor balances enforcement priorities with the legal constraints that courts imposed during Bovino's tenure.