Border Patrol chief praises agents who killed Alex Pretti and offers surprising theory

Calls for an Independent Investigation

Civil rights groups, community leaders, and some lawmakers have called for an independent federal investigation into the shooting.

They argue that transparency is essential to maintaining public trust, particularly when law enforcement officials publicly defend their agents before all facts are established.

Such investigations, advocates say, are not about assigning blame prematurely, but about ensuring accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future.