We know that president elect Donald Trump has picked Tom Homan to be his 'border czar', and according to a report in the New York Post, Trump has selected Texas border czar Mike Banks to be the new 'Border Patrol Chief'.
In January of 2023, Banks was appointed as the Texas Border Czar by Governor Greg Abbott, who said at the time: "To continue doing what no other state in the history of our country has done to secure the border, I hired Mike Banks as the State of Texas' first-ever Border Czar. As an award-winning Border Patrol Agent, with decades of federal law enforcement and border security experience, Mike is the perfect choice to oversee Texas' fight against the surge of illegal immigration, lethal drugs, and deadly weapons flowing into our state and nation. I have no doubt that Mike's strong record of leadership and wealth of experience will provide Texans—and Americans—the level of border security expertise they deserve from a proper Border Czar."
Banks has more than 30 years of federal law enforcement leadership experience, with 23 years specifically tied to the US-Mexico border. As a longtime former border agent himself, Banks will serve as the federal agency’s 27th head under the Trump administration, according to the Post, replacing Jason Owens.
The Texas-native was the former agent in charge at the USBP’s Weslaco Station, and has worked in other border states, including Arizona and California.