Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens has stepped down from his role as head of the Border Patrol agency, telling Fox News that his agents are in difficult circumstances, including some of the worst conditions he’s seen in his entire career. He said he gave his 100% effort.
Owens was promoted to Border Patrol chief in 2023, but will retire in April. Texas border czar Mike Banks has been selected as the next commissioner.
Owens spoke to Fox News about his time as secretary during the height of the crisis at the southern border. He said it’s “bittersweet” because it’s the end of a chapter in his life.
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President Biden walks with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, Feb. 29. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
“But at the same time, it makes me happy because I feel like I made a difference and it’s time to pass it on to the next generation.”
Fox asked about the surge in border crossings that his men and women responded to in 2021, including the surge in Del Rio and the overwhelming number in Eagle Pass, Texas.
“I’d never seen anything like that. And it was as bad as I’ve ever seen in my career. And men and women, at any time, they knew they could. “We’re trying to figure out a way to deal with it like, ‘Let’s go back to patrol and prevent the bad guys from coming in,'” he said.
He described how Border Patrol agents range from performing CPR on infants to tracking down gang members and convicted felons.
“It’s a burden on everyone. And what I saw was that men and women were dealing with it not just once in a while, but day in and day out. No matter how frustrated they were, the next morning… “They woke up, put on that uniform, went out there, and I owed them 100 percent,” he said.
This photo shows migrants encountered at the southern Arizona border. (U.S. Border Patrol)
As for Banks, Owens said he considers him a friend and is “confident and optimistic about our future with him at the helm.”
“He loves the Border Patrol as much as I do, and will continue to focus on our mission to protect this country from harm,” he said.
Owens also said, “I’ve never seen a situation where I could say the border is secure.”
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“Because to me, a secure border means that if something bad tries to enter this country, we can detect it and stop it. There are too many of our borders today. There are still many gaps and vulnerabilities,” he said. .
Outgoing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas praised Owens in a statement, saying, “He embodies the ethos of the U.S. Border Patrol: ‘Honor First.'”
“Chief Owens has dedicated his life to public service. From his first assignment at the Calexico base to commanding the elite BORTAC unit in El Paso, from his leadership of the USBP Academy to the Laredo sector, throughout his career in the Border Patrol. , Del Rio Sector, Washington, DC; And in many places in between, he has always stepped up and stepped in whenever the challenges were greatest and when his talents were most needed. “My courage, my integrity and my civility made me a member of the Border Patrol,” he said.
“These qualities make Chief Owens the perfect and qualified person to lead the Border Patrol during a very difficult time. He has inspired so many others throughout his distinguished law enforcement career. We are grateful that he accepted that challenge, just as he has accepted it. Border Patrol and Homeland Security are stronger today because of Chief Owens.”
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The announcement comes just days before President-elect Trump takes office, and is expected to launch a massive deportation operation and new efforts to strengthen border security. On Friday, Kristi Noem, President Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, had a confirmation hearing.
At the same hearing, she also promised to secure the border, including pledging to end the use of the CBP One app and related parole program introduced by the Biden administration.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at: Twitter.
