WASHINGTON — Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino praised the agents who were involved in the shooting of anti-ICE protester Alex Pretti — and said they are the real victims of the fatal melee in Minneapolis.
Bovino stood by his agents and revealed that they are still on the job, albeit on administrative duty following the shooting of Pretti, 37 — which has caused a new wave of outcry from Dems and also some on the right.
US Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino stood by his agents in contentious exchange on CNN. AFP via Getty Images
Alex Jeffrey Pretti and ICE agents prior to the shooting. AP
A view of the incident from the sidewalk.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the shooting of a 37-year-old anti-ICE protester in Minneapolis
- Alex Pretti was ‘known’ to feds, and had rib broken in anti-ICE protest a week before he was killed by Border Patrol
- Who is Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the anti-ICE protester fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis?
- Alex Pretti was among 50 anti-ICE protesters who confronted Border Patrol before Minneapolis shooting
- DHS investigating whether Alex Pretti’s gun accidentally fired — and sparked deadly Minneapolis shooting: sources
- Alex Pretti’s sister slams ‘disgusting lies’ about brother after he was killed during Minn. anti-ICE protests: ‘When does this end?’
“The victims are the Border Patrol agents. I’m not blaming the Border Patrol agents,” Bovino shot back on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday when asked if he was “blaming the victim.”
“The suspect put himself in that situation.”
BASH: It feels as though you're blaming the victim here
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 25, 2026
BOVINO: The victims are the Border Patrol agents. I'm not blaming the Border Patrol agents. The victims are the Border Patrol agents. pic.twitter.com/rjmB7bOzrn
Pretti was a nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, and had been armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. AP
Alex Jeffrey Pretti’s altercation with an ICE agent. APPretti, a nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, had been armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, which local authorities say he had a permit to carry.
Footage indicated that Pretti’s gun was taken away after officers pinned him to the ground. One video showed an officer holding the weapon.
Officers were then opening fire on Pretti, shooting him multiple times.”Follow directions of law enforcement in an active crime scene,” Bovino contended at another point.
The 9mm semiautomatic handgun that Pretti was carrying. DHS“Very evident he didn’t want to do that.”
“He [Pretti] injected himself into that crime scene. I can’t say that enough. He made the decision. We didn’t make the decision.”
