Border Patrol Chief Owens announces his retirement, and the Texas Border Czar takes over

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens is stepping down from his role as head of the agency – telling Fox News that his agents gave 100% under difficult conditions, including some of the worst conditions he’s seen in his career.

Owens, who was promoted to chief of the Border Patrol in 2023, is retiring in April. Texas frontier kingpin Mike Banks will be chosen as the next boss.

Owens spoke to Fox News about his time as chief during some of the most intense moments of the crisis on the southern border. He said it was “bittersweet” because it was the end of a chapter in his life.

THE HIGHEST BORDER REPRESENTATIVE PUSHES FOR A BLOODTHREAD GANG TO BE DECLARED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION: ‘GLOVES OFF’

“But at the same time, it’s happy because I feel like I’ve made a difference and it’s time to pass it on to the next generation.”

Fox asked him about the surge in border crossings his men and women have faced — including the 2021 spike in Del Rio and the huge numbers in Eagle Pass, Texas.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. And it was as bad as I’ve seen in my entire career. And at all times, men and women are trying to find a way to take care of it so they can go back out there on patrol and stop the bad actors from getting in.” , he said.

He described how Border Patrol agents would switch from performing CPR on babies to hunting down a gang member or convicted felon.

“It takes a toll on everyone. And what I’ve seen is that these men and women deal with it not just from time to time, but everyday, every day. No matter how frustrated they are, they get up the next morning, put on that uniform and they went there and gave 100% and I owed them 100%,” he said.

As for Banks, Owens said he considers him a friend and said he’s “confident and optimistic about our future with him at the helm.”

“He loves the Border Patrol just as much as I do. And he will keep his focus on the mission of keeping this country safe from evil,” he said.

Owens also said he has “never seen a situation where I would say the border is secure.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE REPORTS ON THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS

“Because for me, a safe border so if something bad tries to enter this country, I will be able to detect it and stop it. Today, there are too many gaps and vulnerabilities that still exist on our border,” he said.

Outgoing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas praised Owens in a statement, saying he “embodies the ethos of the United States Border Patrol – ‘Honor above all.’

“Chief Owens has dedicated his life to public service. Throughout his Border Patrol career – from his first assignment at Station Calexico to commanding the elite BORTAC unit in El Paso, from his leadership of the USBP Academy to Sector Laredo, Sector Del Rio, Washington, DC, and many posts of duty in between – always standing out and stepping in whenever the challenges were greatest, and wherever his talents were most needed, he rose through the ranks of the Border Patrol thanks to his outstanding leadership and his courage, honesty and decency,” he said.

“It is these qualities that make Chief Owens the best and right person to lead the Border Patrol in extremely difficult times. I am grateful that he accepted the challenge, just as he has accepted many others during his distinguished law enforcement career. The Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Securitythey are stronger today because of Chief Owens,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The announcement comes days before President-elect Trump takes office and is expected to launch a mass deportation operation as well as renew efforts to strengthen border security. On Friday, Kristi Noem, Trump’s pick to head the Department of Homeland Security, faced a confirmation hearing.

During that hearing, she also pledged to secure the border, including vowing to end the use of the CBP One application and related parole programs introduced by the Biden administration.