Border Patrol officers will continue to go anywhere in the United States to apprehend illegal migrants, according to the agency’s chief.
Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks stated that Americans should expect an unprecedented level of coordination between his agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as President Donald Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown expands beyond the border and into the interior of the country.
“We are the United States Border Patrol,” Banks said, “who will go anywhere in the United States of America, apprehend illegal aliens, prosecute them, and return them to their country or to a country that is amenable to being returned.”
Banks emphasized that the era where individuals could pass beyond U.S. border patrols without fear of deportation has ended.
“Gone are the days,” he added, “where, if you got past the U.S. Border Patrol, you were free to go, you were free to live out your life, and not have to worry about deportation.”
A recent report indicated that Border Patrol agents have been deployed over the past six months to major cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, Charlotte, and New Orleans. These operations have at times sparked protests from left-wing activists who oppose federal law enforcement.
Traditionally, Border Patrol agents are stationed along the border to stop unlawful crossings between ports of entry. However, Banks stressed that the agency has legal authority to enforce federal immigration laws nationwide and has been called upon by the Department of Homeland Security to assist ICE.
While critics describe these deployments as “raids,” Banks clarified that Border Patrol is supporting ICE and responding to operational needs.
“I will continue to provide the manpower and resources to support ICE anywhere they need it in the United States of America to eradicate illegal immigration,” he stated.
Banks argued that interior operations are producing measurable results, including encouraging illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily. Each time a new city operation begins, he noted, “self-deports” through the CBP Home phone app rise while illegal border-entry attempts decline—a sign that enforcement is restoring deterrence.
The Department of Homeland Security recently reported that 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily departed since Trump took office.
This aggressive strategy reflects a broader administration approach: combining tougher interior enforcement with expanded border deterrents.
Banks previously announced plans for the administration to install approximately 900 miles of floating buoy barriers along the Rio Grande beginning in early 2026—a major expansion of a controversial tool designed to stop crossings and improve detection.
“I have never seen this much support from a president and a secretary,” Banks said, praising the administration’s approach.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Trump administration is seeking contractors to convert industrial warehouses into large-scale staging centers to expedite deportations and reduce chaos in the current detention system.
Collectively, these policies underscore a core Trump priority: ending catch-and-release practices, reestablishing consequences for illegal entry, and ensuring that illegal residence will no longer be ignored, regardless of distance from the border.
