U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks has resigned, effective immediately. His unexpected departure adds to the list of high-ranking officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who have left their posts recently. Banks, appointed by President Trump at his inauguration, had previously been the border czar for Texas.
According to Breitbart Texas, Banks had been contemplating his resignation for several months. He had already officially retired from the Border Patrol before stepping into the role as Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s first border czar. Since Banks was a political appointee under Trump and a former Border Patrol retiree, he can’t retire from the Border Patrol again; hence, he opted for resignation.
His resignation comes after several other senior leaders within DHS have also stepped down. In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem resigned and was succeeded by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. Later that same month, CBP Commander Gregory Bovino announced his retirement, followed soon after by Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who announced his retirement effective May 31.
Breitbart Texas spoke with Gregory Bovino, a former El Centro Border Patrol chief, who confirmed Banks’ retirement. Bovino remarked on Banks’ presence during challenging times, saying, “Mr. Banks was on the ground with us in Minnesota and stood by our agents while bricks and stones were being thrown.” He expressed that Banks understood the urgency for significant internal removal operations, given the challenges posed by open border policies under the Biden administration.
“Secretary Banks was clearly aligned with the mass removal approach, acknowledging that a soft strategy wouldn’t suffice for a border that has been open for four years,” Bovino stated. “He is a supporter of our teams on the ground and advocates for mass removal operations from DHS.”
Bovino shared that Banks expressed a wish to spend more time with family after announcing his resignation, and he was proud of the progress the Border Patrol has achieved in securing the borders. “The secretary told me he was looking forward to reclaiming lost time with his family after dedicating years to a challenging cause,” Bovino relayed. “Thirty-seven years is quite a commitment to a risky endeavor. He certainly deserves it.”
Banks, originally from California, served in the U.S. Navy for a decade before joining the Border Patrol in 2000. He started as a Border Patrol agent in Calexico, California, and held various positions within the agency for 25 years across multiple states. Before retiring from the Border Patrol, he served in leadership roles in Texas, Arizona, and California.
In January 2023, Banks was appointed Texas’ first border czar by Governor Abbott. He will hold this position until the appointment of his 27th successor, with plans to take charge of the U.S. Border Patrol in January 2025.
