United States Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks has resigned after serving 16 months as the agency’s 27th chief, marking another major departure within President Donald Trump’s immigration team.
His exit follows the retirement of senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino and the dismissal of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
The reason behind Banks’ resignation remains unclear, though he said he wanted to return home to Texas and focus on his family.
In an interview with Fox News, the 52-year-old former Navy veteran said:
“It’s just time. I feel like I got the ship back on course from the least secure disastrous chaotic border to the most secure border this country has ever seen.”
In a farewell letter to staff, Banks praised the agency’s work over the past year, calling its achievements “nothing short of amazing.”
Banks spent more than 37 years in federal service, including 10 years in the U.S. Navy before joining the Border Patrol. He also served as a special adviser on border affairs to Texas Governor Greg Abbott before being appointed the 27th Border Patrol chief after Trump was sworn into his second term in January 2025.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott thanked Banks for his service following the announcement.
Since returning to office, the Trump administration has pursued strict immigration enforcement measures aimed at reducing illegal migration into the United States, including cases involving legally documented migrants.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, illegal border crossings have dropped by more than 90 percent over the past 18 months.