U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks has unexpectedly resigned from his position after a series of allegations involving his past conduct.
In a statement to Fox News, Banks said, “It’s just time,” adding that he had worked to transform the border from “the least secure, disastrous, chaotic” state to “the most secure border this country has ever seen.” He also noted, “Time to pass the reigns, 37 years, it’s time to enjoy the family and life.”
Banks grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia, where he was raised primarily by his grandmother on a fixed income while his single mother struggled to raise two older half-sisters. To help support his grandmother, he began working full-time during summers and part-time during school years picking peaches alongside migrant farmworkers.
Banks enlisted in the military at age 17 and served for a decade in both combat and peacetime roles overseas and domestically, primarily in law enforcement capacities. He applied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2000 after hearing stories from agents.
Multiple current and former Border Patrol agents have reported that Banks engaged in prostitution during trips abroad over a decade-long period. Specifically, agents revealed that Banks traveled to Colombia and Thailand while working as an agent to engage in such activities.
One former agent stated, “I don’t know how he became the chief of the Border Patrol with his character.” The same agent added that Banks had personally pushed him to accompany on these trips, calling the behavior “disgusting” and noting it was counter to the mission of combating female trafficking.
Another source revealed that Banks openly bragged about his activities with colleagues, explaining he traveled abroad specifically for such purposes.
According to agents, Banks’ conduct had been under investigation by CBP officials twice in the past year, but these investigations ended abruptly while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in office.
Banks’ resignation follows allegations that he was part of a group of officials known as the “Noem/Lewandowski/Bovino/Perez cohort.”