The head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Banks, announced Thursday that he is retiring from his post amid mounting scrutiny over allegations of unethical conduct during his years as a federal agent.
Banks’ resignation follows a Washington Examiner investigation that detailed accusations from multiple current and former Border Patrol employees who claimed Banks regularly traveled overseas to pay for sex with prostitutes while serving in management positions within the agency.
According to six current and former Border Patrol officials who spoke to the outlet, Banks openly discussed trips to Colombia and Thailand over the course of roughly a decade, allegedly bragging to colleagues about engaging in prostitution during those travels. Several sources claimed Banks even encouraged coworkers to accompany him on the trips.
“I don’t know how he became the chief of the Border Patrol with his character,” one former Border Patrol agent told the Washington Examiner, accusing Banks of exploiting impoverished women abroad.
Another source said Banks “would tell people that’s why he was going on these trips,” adding that his alleged conduct ran counter to the agency’s mission of combating human trafficking and exploitation.
The allegations reportedly stem from Banks’ time serving in leadership roles in Nogales, Arizona, and later in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Sources told the Washington Examiner that Customs and Border Protection investigated the claims on at least two occasions, including as recently as last year, though the investigations were ultimately closed without disciplinary action.
In a statement to the outlet, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the allegations “date back more than a decade and were reviewed years ago.”
“The matter was closed,” the agency said. “CBP takes allegations regarding misconduct seriously. We cherish the public’s trust and work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and hold ourselves accountable.”
While prostitution is legal in parts of Colombia and Thailand, several current and former agents argued that participating in such activity violates the ethical standards expected of Border Patrol personnel.
The National Border Patrol Council defended Banks, saying he had been investigated and “cleared of any misconduct.” Union President Paul Perez suggested the accusations were being revived by critics upset over Banks’ management style and disciplinary actions against agency officials.
Banks has not publicly addressed the allegations in detail following his retirement an
