The US government needs to fill the top border guards. The previous head of the authority, Michael Banks, is surprisingly resigning from his position.
May 14, 2026, 9:48 p.mMay 14, 2026, 9:48 p.m
The head of the US Border Patrol, Michael Banks, has unexpectedly resigned. The US Border Patrol did not give a reason for the move on Thursday. His departure is part of a series of personnel changes in the immigration authorities under US President Donald Trump in recent months. In a farewell message to employees, Banks said he would “forever remain the greatest defender” of his agency.
US border patrol chief Michael Banks resigns.Image: keystone
Trump appointed Banks as head of the agency in January 2025. He had already worked for the border protection for two decades before becoming border commissioner for the Republican-governed state of Texas from 2023. According to an insider, Banks was considered an ally of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump fired in March.
Approval of Trump’s immigration policy is dwindling
The personnel changes come at a time when public approval of Trump’s immigration strategy is declining. In addition to Banks, other high-ranking employees are also leaving the agency. Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons is retiring at the end of the month.
He will be succeeded by David Venturella, who previously worked for the private prison operator GEO Group. Controversial Border Patrol agent Gregory Bovino retired in March. At the same time, the powers of the White House border representative, Tom Homan, were expanded.
CBP chief thanks Banks
Trump won re-election on a promise to crack down on illegal border crossings. Under his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, millions of people were in the country illegally USA reached. According to government data, about 86,000 migrants were apprehended at the border during Trump’s first year in office from February 2025 to January 2026, compared to 956,000 the year before.
The head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Rodney Scott, thanked Banks for his efforts. Under his leadership, the border has transformed “from chaos to the most secure border ever,” explained Scott.
During Banks’ term in office, the US government increasingly deployed border guards to major US cities. There, they used aggressive tactics to arrest people who were suspected of violating immigration laws. There were clashes with residents. Banks himself stayed in the background during these controversial operations.
Sources used:
- Reuters news agency
(hkl)