Border Patrol Agents in Minneapolis Shooting Placed on Standard Administrative Leave per CBP Firearms Policy

January 28, 2026
6:11 pm

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Two Border Patrol agents who fired on armed suspect Alex Pretti during a chaotic Saturday shootout in Minneapolis have been placed on standard administrative leave, straight out of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) playbook. Per a Department of Homeland Security insider, this isn't punishment—it's protocol: three days off to decompress, mandatory check-in with the agency's mental wellness Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a thorough review to ensure everything was by the book. Pretti, no stranger to trouble with a rap sheet including felons-in-possession charges, was reportedly the aggressor, pulling a gun amid a multi-agency response to a stolen vehicle scenario gone sideways. Bodycam footage, if released, will likely show agents reacting to an imminent threat, underscoring why feds carry sidearms in the heartland. This routine move highlights a critical double standard in the gun debate that every 2A advocate should clock: when LEOs discharge firearms in defense of life, bureaucracy kicks in with paid leave and psych evals—not suspensions or smears. Contrast that with the armed civilian who might face immediate arrest, media crucifixion, and civil suits in a stand your ground gray area, even if dashcams vindicate them months later. CBP's policy isn't just employee protection; it's a nod to the psychological toll of split-second decisions under fire, a reality private carriers rarely get. For the 2A community, it's a reminder that institutional backing for good shoots sets a precedent—imagine if every concealed carrier had EAP access post-incident. As details emerge, this case could bolster arguments for qualified immunity reforms and mental health resources for armed citizens, proving that when the state arms its own, accountability looks a lot like support, not shackles. The implications ripple outward: in an era of defund-the-police rhetoric, CBP's steady protocol reinforces that armed authority figures get grace periods to heal, while everyday defenders navigate a minefield. If Pretti's criminal history and the threat level hold up, expect this to fade from headlines without the usual anti-cop spin. 2A folks, clip this one—it's exhibit A for why we push for parity in self-defense rights, from the border to the boulevard. Stay vigilant; the thin blue line's playbook could be our blueprint.

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This routine move highlights a critical double standard in the gun debate that every 2A advocate should clock: when LEOs discharge firearms in defense of life, bureaucracy kicks in with paid leave and psych evals—not suspensions or smears. Contrast that with the armed civilian who might face immediate arrest, media crucifixion, and civil suits in a stand your ground gray area, even if dashcams vindicate them months later. CBP’s policy isn’t just employee protection; it’s a nod to the psychological toll of split-second decisions under fire, a reality private carriers rarely get. For the 2A community, it’s a reminder that institutional backing for good shoots sets a precedent—imagine if every concealed carrier had EAP access post-incident. As details emerge, this case could bolster arguments for qualified immunity reforms and mental health resources for armed citizens, proving that when the state arms its own, accountability looks a lot like support, not shackles.

The implications ripple outward: in an era of defund-the-police rhetoric, CBP’s steady protocol reinforces that armed authority figures get grace periods to heal, while everyday defenders navigate a minefield. If Pretti’s criminal history and the threat level hold up, expect this to fade from headlines without the usual anti-cop spin. 2A folks, clip this one—it’s exhibit A for why we push for parity in self-defense rights, from the border to the boulevard. Stay vigilant; the thin blue line’s playbook could be our blueprint.

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