US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks Resigns Unexpectedly

Michael Banks, the head of the US Border Patrol, has unexpectedly resigned after serving for 16 months. Banks, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in January 2025, did not provide a specific reason for his departure but expressed continued support for the agency in a farewell message. He was widely considered a close ally of Kristi Noem, the former Secretary of Homeland Security who was dismissed by Trump in March 2026. During Banks' tenure, the Border Patrol expanded operations into major US cities, employing aggressive tactics that resulted in civilian deaths and public clashes. Rodney Scott, head of Customs and Border Protection, praised Banks for transforming the border into the safest it has ever been. This resignation marks another significant personnel change within Trump's immigration apparatus, following the retirement of Gregory Bovino and the upcoming departure of ICE Director Todd Lyons. Public approval of Trump's strict immigration strategy has declined despite a sharp decrease in border arrests, which fell from 956,000 in the previous year to approximately 86,000 between February 2025 and January 2026.