President Trump Picks Texas Border Czar as New Border Patrol Chief

President Donald Trump plans to appoint Mike Banks, Texas’ border czar, as U.S. Border Patrol chief.

This is replacing career official Jason Owens, who is set to retire in April.

Banks marks a shift from the tradition of career officials heading Border Patrol.

Banks’ appointment underscores President Trump’s focus on overhauling border security.

Big change is needed and Banks is just the guy for the job.

Part of the plan is deportations. The other part is making sure the flow of immigrants stops.

Former BP agent and Texas border czar Mike Banks appointed as Trump’s Border Patrol chief https://t.co/Rc5mgwiqj8 pic.twitter.com/zY43GiTWgz

— New York Post (@nypost) January 16, 2025

CBS News reports:

The incoming Trump administration is planning to install Texas’ border czar as head of U.S. Border Patrol, replacing the career official who currently leads the agency in charge of stopping the illicit movement of migrants and drugs.

Mike Banks, who has spearheaded Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border crackdown, is expected to be appointed Border Patrol chief after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office, two sources familiar with the move told CBS News Thursday.

Banks would replace current Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, a 28-year veteran career official at the agency. Owens is set to retire from government service in April, two U.S. officials told CBS News.

In an internal message sent to agents Thursday and obtained by CBS News, Owens said the opportunity to serve as Border Patrol chief was “the highest honor I have ever received.”

“Looking ahead, I will leave with a profound sense of optimism about its future and that of our country,” Owens wrote. “I will take comfort knowing that you are on our frontline, standing between the innocent and the evil.”

Banks’ appointment would be a departure from the general practice of Border Patrol having leaders that are career government officials, not political appointees.

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection official, Banks has been a key player in Texas’ aggressive effort to counter what the state has argued is the Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border amid record levels of migrant crossings.

It’s been nearly 2 years since Gov. Abbot picked Banks for the role of Border Czar.

Texas is using every tool we have to stop the flow of drugs, weapons, and people across our border.

With Mike Banks as our new Texas Border Czar, Texas will continue our historic response to Biden’s border crisis. pic.twitter.com/QUgdEF1i9u

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 2, 2023