The United States Customs and Border Protection announced Monday the appointment of Rosario “Pete” Vasquez as the new Chief of U.S. Border Patrol.

The move comes after former Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks resigned last month to spend time with his family and return to his Texas ranch. Banks began serving in the post in January 2025.

The department said Vasquez has more than 26 years of experience with Border Patrol and has served in a range of operational and executive leadership assignments across the southwest border, northern border, international posts and CBP headquarters.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as chief of the United States Border Patrol, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by President Trump, [Homeland Security] Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin, and Commissioner [Rodney] Scott,” Vasquez said in a statement.

“Our agents have never backed down from a challenge, and neither will I," he continued. "As chief, my focus is clear: support our agents, strengthen our operational capabilities, and ensure the U.S. Border Patrol remains the most effective border security force in the world.”

Vasquez is now expected to lead over 20,000 Border Patrol agents and professional staff in combatting transnational criminal organizations, disrupting human smuggling and narcotics trafficking networks and safeguarding U.S. sovereignty.

“Pete Vasquez is a Border Patrol agent’s agent,” Scott said. “He has spent more than two decades leading from the front, earning the respect of the workforce, and delivering results in some of the most challenging operational environments in the country. 

"He understands what this mission demands because he has lived it. There is no one better suited to lead the United States Border Patrol into its next chapter," he added.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.