A rideshare driver operating in Minneapolis has provided a detailed account of his unsettling encounter with Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, following what he describes as unprofessional questioning by federal agents regarding his accent. Ahmed Bin Hassan, who captured the January 7 incident on video, stated to CNN that the agents' behaviour made it clear they were indifferent to his actual identity.
Questioning Based on Accent Sparks Outrage
Bin Hassan explained that during the interaction, an agent explicitly told him, "You know what? I know you're not an American citizen, and I demand that you show me proof of that … What's making me ask you this stuff is, you do not sound like me… You don't have the same accent as me." The driver expressed his shock at this line of inquiry, remarking, "Are we using accents now to verify citizenship? It was just absurd to hear that." He emphasised that the approach felt like harassment based on superficial characteristics rather than any legitimate security concern.
Chief Bovino's Dismissive Response Captured on Video
Moments after the initial questioning, Bin Hassan says Chief Bovino approached him and engaged in a conversation that he characterised as unserious and almost joking in tone. In the video, Hassan can be heard asking, "They're just harassing people based on skin colour... What do you guys want to do today? You guys gonna take me away?" Bovino responded by asking, "Well, that depends. Are you an illegal alien?" to which Hassan replied sarcastically, "Yes, I’m an illegal alien from another planet." The Border Patrol chief then stated, "If that's the case, if you're from another planet – that counts too."
Incident Occurs Amid Controversial Fatal Shootings
The encounter took place on the very same day that ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in New York. Less than three weeks later, Border Patrol agents would be involved in another fatal shooting, this time of ICU nurse Alex Pretti. In his video, Bin Hassan confronts Bovino about Good's death, demanding, "What the hell happened? Why are you guys shooting at people? Why did you guys shoot that lady? Answer me that there's an officer today that shot a lady in the head, dude, for what? You could have just got her, man, she's not gonna fly out of the country like an alien." Bovino's response was to shrug off the comments and quip, "On a spaceship?"
Political Fallout and Bovino's Removal from Minneapolis
In the wake of public outrage following Alex Pretti's death on Saturday, Gregory Bovino has been removed from his position in Minneapolis. The Trump administration has denied reports that he was removed from his role as "commander at large" of Border Patrol. However, the White House's initially aggressive response to Pretti's death appears to have been moderated following criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Second Amendment Republicans and even the National Rifle Association. Significant criticism has also been directed at Donald Trump for his assertion that Pretti "shouldn't have been carrying a gun" while attending the protest. The Independent has reached out to both Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the interaction between Bovino and Bin Hassan, but no official statement has been provided at this time.
