Border Patrol chief Owens announces retirement, Texas border czar to take over

Jason Owens, chief of the Border Patrol is stepping down from his role as head of the agency, telling Fox News that his agents have given 100 percent under difficult conditions, including some of the worst conditions he has seen in his entire career.

Owens, who was promoted to chief of the Border Patrol in 2023, will retire in April. Texas frontier czar Mike Banks will be tapped to be 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’s the end of a chapter in his life.

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

Fox asked him about the increase in border crossings his men and women have dealt with, including the 2021 increase in Del Rio and the overwhelming numbers in Eagle Pass, Texas.

“I hadn’t seen anything like this. And it was as bad as I’ve seen it in my entire career. And every moment, men and women are trying to find a way to deal with it so they can patrol it again and prevent bad actors from coming in,” he said.

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

“It takes its toll on anybody. And what I saw was that those men and women deal with it not just occasionally, but daily and every day. No matter how frustrated they feel, they get up the next day in the morning, they put on that uniform and went out there and give 100 percent I owed them 100 percent as well,” 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 as much as I do. And he will stay focused on the mission of keeping this country safe,” he said.

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

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“Because for me, a secure border it means that 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 first.

“Chief Owens has dedicated his life to public service. Throughout his Border Patrol career, from his first assignment at the Calexico station to his command of the elite BORTAC unit in El Paso , from his leadership of the USBP Academy to Sector Laredo, Sector Del Rio, Washington, DC, and many office locations in between—he has always stepped up and stepped in whenever the challenges have been greatest and wherever his talents have been most needed He rose through the ranks of the Border Patrol by virtue of his extraordinary leadership and courage, integrity and decency,” he said.

“It is these qualities that made Chief Owens the best and most suitable person to lead the Border Patrol during a very difficult time. I am grateful that he accepted the challenge, as he has accepted so many others throughout his distinguished law enforcement career Border Patrol, and the Department of National Securitythey are stronger today because of Chief Owens,” he said.

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The announcement comes days before President-elect Trump takes office, and is expected to launch a massive deportation crackdown as well as renewed efforts to increase border security. On Friday, Kristi Noem, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, faced her confirmation hearing.

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