The incoming Trump administration is set to appoint Mike Banks, a retired Border Patrol agent and Texas Governor Greg Abbott's "border czar," as the new head of the U.S. Border Patrol. Banks will replace Jason Owens, a 28-year veteran of the agency, who announced his retirement effective in April.
The move, first reported by the New York Post, marks a departure from the tradition of appointing career government officials to lead the agency. Banks, who currently advises Abbott on border matters, played a key role in Texas' Operation Lone Star, an initiative aimed at countering record levels of migrant crossings. The operation has included deploying National Guard troops, installing razor wire, and bussing thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities.
