U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino defended federal agents’ actions after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Pretti, an intensive-care nurse, was killed during a federal operation in the city that has sparked widespread controversy, protests and demands for investigation. 

In comments to CNN’s State of the Union, Bovino argued that Pretti had “put himself in that situation” and claimed that the victims were the Border Patrol agents, not Pretti. He said Pretti inserted himself into an active law enforcement operation and implied that he posed a threat — without providing specific evidence of intent to harm officers. 

Bovino also suggested that agents had acted to prevent potential harm to themselves, framing their response as protective. He did not clearly explain what specific actions by Pretti constituted a threat, leading to criticism from journalists who noted that available video footage does not clearly show Pretti wielding or using a weapon at the moment he was shot. 

Pretti’s death has drawn national attention and sparked protests, with critics arguing that law enforcement used excessive force and questioning the justification for fatal shots. Investigations and legal scrutiny into the incident are ongoing.