If there was ever a doubt that a 2nd Trump term would right the ship (regarding immigration policies) we have some early indications that point toward dramatic, positive change.
The new Chief of the Border Patrol is a very good start. This particular change may seem insignificant to the outsider, especially when compared to the numerous and effective border executive orders Trump has signed, but allow me to explain that this change brings agents hope.
Of course, the executive orders President Trump has signed so far will make an immediate and dramatic impact to reverse the catastrophic open borders policy of the Biden Administration.
However, putting the right person in place has a very specific implication: the boosting of morale amongst the thousands of Border Patrol agents that have (for 4 long years) been in the dumps.
President Trump appointed Tom Homan as the Border Czar (right person) who in turn advised Trump about former Border Patrol agent Mike Banks as the new Chief of the Border Patrol to succeed Jason Owens.
Banks had been serving as the Texas Border Czar. Agents have hope for two reasons: 1) the word “former” and 2) Banks has never held the position of Chief.
This is great news not bad. Banks is not currently a part of the Border Patrol “Leadership”, which has been compromised by the Biden administration. There are very few that can be deemed as trustworthy to have allowed Mayorkas to violate their oath to uphold the Constitution.
Trump chose wisely by appointing an “outsider.” The fact that Banks has been away from the sinking rat ship as a retired former Border Patrol agent is very good.
Also, the fact that Banks has never previously been a Chief means he’s never drank anyone’s Kool-Aid! Banks retired as a Patrol Agent in Charge. In other words, he was in charge of a Border Patrol Station and not a sector. Sector Chiefs are sycophantic followers of the Chief of the Border Patrol who is a lackey of whatever president is in office.
However, as Patrol Agent in Charge he has proven himself as a leader of Border Patrol agents without the Washington DC swamp flavored Kool-Aid of politics. I get it, this new position is political.
I understand that everyone has orders to follow, but if we all took the oath, at what point do we refuse an unlawful order? Chief Ortiz, for example, and all his sector chiefs were following unlawful orders from Mayorkas.
Chief Owens was a good man while serving as Del Rio Sector Chief, but he never pushed back on the Chief of the Border Patrol Raul Ortiz. Owens became Chief of the Border Patrol after Ortiz departed and the same open borders policy stayed strong. Nobody pushed back on Mayorkas, so Mayorkas’ decision to violate his oath cascaded down to every single agent as a direct order.
Chief Banks is untarnished and free of the open borders mentality. He will be a leader that respects the rule of law because he respects the Constitution. Therefore, he will honor his oath.
By honoring the oath, he will honor every single agent entrusted to protect our nation’s borders.
That is why the Border Patrol motto is “Honor First” because when it doesn’t come first, people’s careers do. Banks’ career ended when he retired and now he’s coming back to right the ship minus the rats. Banks has nothing to lose as far as career ambitions, however thousands of agents have a lot to gain.
Writer’s note: If you like this and other articles that I post, you really should do the American thing and follow me on Facebook Joel Maldonado.Author Politics you can also follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Maldonation1
However, if you’re really patriotic get a copy of my book The Binding Oath: A Border Patrol Journey and the Mayorkas Effect! A must read!
