President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz struck a conciliatory tone after a private phone call on Monday, signaling efforts to defuse a crisis triggered by a Trump-ordered deportation drive that has left two U.S. citizens dead in Minneapolis.

Trump also spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and all sides described the conversations as productive, marking a shift from weeks of sharp public exchanges. The outreach coincided with confirmation from a senior administration official that Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official who has drawn heavy criticism from Democrats and civil liberties groups, will leave Minnesota along with some of the agents deployed there.

The official said Trump’s designated border czar, Tom Homan, would take charge of the operation in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge. Trump said Homan was being sent to the state, noting that he had not been directly involved in the crackdown but is familiar with officials on the ground.

Later on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said Bovino had been stripped of his special title as Border Patrol “commander at large” and would return to his former post as chief patrol agent in California’s El Centro sector, with plans to retire soon. The Atlantic first reported the change, citing Department of Homeland Security officials, though DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin disputed claims that Bovino had been relieved of his duties.

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Bovino has been a prominent public face of Trump’s deportation campaign, often appearing with heavily armed federal agents during enforcement operations. His removal follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis during clashes between immigration officers and protesters. The incident sparked widespread backlash after video footage appeared to contradict official claims that Pretti posed an imminent threat.

Another U.S. citizen, Renee Good, 37, was also killed by a federal agent earlier this month, further intensifying scrutiny of the operation. In both cases, the Justice Department has not yet opened investigations, while Minnesota authorities have accused federal agencies of obstructing state-level inquiries.

Following his call with Walz, Trump said he and the governor were on a “similar wavelength.” Walz’s office said Trump indicated he would consider reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and would ensure the state could conduct its own investigation into the Pretti shooting. Frey said some federal agents were expected to begin leaving the Twin Cities on Tuesday.

Signs of political fallout also emerged. Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel withdrew from the race, saying the deportation crackdown had gone too far and made a Republican victory unlikely.

A recent Reuters Ipsos poll showed public support for Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics declining in the aftermath of the Minneapolis shooting, adding pressure on the administration to scale back its approach.