Gregory Bovino, the commander-at-large for the U.S. Border Patrol, is absolutely tearing into members of Congress from both sides of the aisle on social media following two highly controversial fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis. Bovino has been actively using X to challenge the narratives and demands coming from powerful Republican and Democratic lawmakers, refusing to let the criticism go unanswered, as reported by The Hill.
These intense exchanges follow the recent death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, who was fatally shot by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent. Authorities claim the shooting was justified, stating that Pretti allegedly approached them with a “9mm semi-automatic” handgun. However, eyewitness video footage of the shooting shows Pretti holding a phone. This tragedy followed another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, this time involving an ICE officer and a woman named Renee Good.
Bovino wasn’t holding back against the GOP critics. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana posted concerns about the reputation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Cassidy called for a “full joint federal and state investigation” into the recent shooting, which is a fairly standard move for a concerned senator.
These incidents have really ratcheted up the mass outrage directed toward President Trump’s administration and how it handles immigration enforcement throughout his second term
Bovino immediately slammed back, asking why Cassidy wasn’t worried about the local political environment, specifically mentioning “a certain mayor who told cops to fight ICE in the streets.” Bovino questioned how the same state that “refuses to work with ICE” could possibly conduct a fair investigation.
The commander also went head-to-head with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Massie, who has had some friction with the Trump administration lately, argued that carrying a firearm is a “Constitutionally protected God-given right” and shouldn’t be a death sentence. He added that anyone who doesn’t understand that has “no business in law enforcement or government.” Bovino argued, “Attacking law enforcement is not a right like you want it to be.”
Bovino didn’t stop there; he went after Democrats who were calling for agents to abandon their posts. Representative Eric Swalwell of California encouraged ICE officers to “Walk off the job.” Bovino responded that he “was thinking the same for” the California representative.
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who is already fighting a massive legal battle against the Pentagon, also jumped into the fray, urging his followers to trust “what you see.” Kelly suggested that Pretti was trying to help a woman off the ground when agents tackled, shot, and killed him. Kelly finished his post by saying it was time for the agents “to get the h— out of MN.” When Bovino saw that, he hit back hard, calling Kelly a “Typical arm chair quarterback” and asking if the Senator had even been present at the scene.
Published: Jan 27, 2026 12:00 pm