U.S. Border Patrol Commissioner Mike Banks attends a roundtable discussion with local ranchers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on January 7, 2026 in Brownsville, Texas.
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U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks resigned on Thursday.
“I would like to thank U.S. Border Patrol Commissioner Michael Banks for his decades of service to this country and congratulate him on his second retirement as he returns to duty during one of the most challenging times for border security,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement.
“During his tenure as Secretary, the border went from chaos to the most secure border ever recorded. We wish him and his family well,” Scott said.
Fox News first reported that Banks would resign from the Border Patrol with immediate effect.
“The time is now,” Banks said, according to an X post by FOX Congressional Correspondent Bill Melgin.
Melgin said Banks “feels like we’ve gotten the ship back on track. From the most insecure, horrible, chaotic border to the most secure border this country has ever seen.” “It’s time to end your reign. After 37 years, it’s time to enjoy life with your family.”
Mr. Banks’ resignation comes six weeks after the Washington Examiner, citing six anonymous sources identified as current or former Border Patrol agents, reported that Mr. Banks, while a former Border Patrol agent, had “bragged” to colleagues about paying for sex with prostitutes while traveling overseas.
CNBC asked CBP for comment on these allegations and whether they played a role in Banks’ resignation.
“These allegations date back more than a decade and were reviewed several years ago,” a CBP spokesperson told the Examiner in the report.
“The matter has been resolved,” a CBP spokesperson said in a statement quoted by the news organization. “CBP takes allegations of misconduct seriously. We value the public’s trust and work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable individuals.”
Disputes over enforcement actions by the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement led to a partial shutdown of DHS from February to late April after Congressional Democrats refused to approve funding for the parent agency over immigration enforcement concerns. The agreement that ended the shutdown did not include funding for ICE and CBP.
