Mike Banks

Michael W. Banks is an American law enforcement officer who served as the 27th chief of the United States Border Patrol from 2025 to 2026. Previously, he served as the first Texas border czar.

Early life Banks attended Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, where he received an associate's degree in administration of justice, and South Texas College, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science and organizational leadership. He served for 10 years in the United States Navy as a Master-at-arms.

Career After his service in the Navy, Banks joined the United States Border Patrol in 2000. Graduated from the Border Patrol Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia and his first duty station was in Calexico, California. Went to serve in various positions in over 25 years of experience.

Banks retired from the Border Patrol in January 2023, due to disagreements with the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. Shortly after he retired, he was named by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as the state's first border czar on January 30, 2023. Abbott said that he hired Banks to "tap his expertise to deploy strategies that reduce illegal immigration and keep our community safe," and tasked him with helping build the border wall.

On January 16, 2025, Banks was named by President-elect Donald Trump to be the Chief of the United States Border Patrol. The position does not require Senate confirmation, and he was sworn in on January 22, 2025.

In April 2026, the Washington Examiner reported allegations according to former Border Patrol employees that Banks had engaged in sex tourism in Colombia and Thailand from the early to mid 2010s until his retirement in 2023.