Former CBP Officials Allege Border Patrol Head Engaged in Sex Tourism: 'I Don't Know How He Became Chief'

The head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Banks, has been accused by current and former officials of engaging in sex tourism abroad, with multiple sources consulted by The Washington Examiner alleging he discussed paying for sex with prostitutes during trips to countries including Colombia and Thailand.

Six current and former Border Patrol employees told the new site that Banks spoke openly about such trips over a period of years. One former agent said, "I don't know how he became the chief of the Border Patrol with his character," alleging that Banks had invited him to join one of the trips. "He's going to third-world countries to take advantage of poor f***ing women, which disgusts the hell out of me," he added.

Another source consulted by The Washington Examiner said Banks "would tell people that's why he was going on these trips," adding that such conduct conflicted with the agency's mission to combat human trafficking. "If you're partaking in those activities, you're supporting the trafficking and exploitation of women," the person said.

According to the report, the alleged conduct took place over roughly a decade and continued until Banks' retirement in 2023. He later returned to the Department of Homeland Security in 2025.

Some employees said the trips were widely known within certain circles of the agency, with one recalling that Banks initially framed them as scuba diving excursions before describing plans to "get a bunch of prostitutes and have a good time."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the site that the allegations "date back more than a decade and were reviewed years ago," adding that "the matter was closed." The agency said it "takes allegations regarding misconduct seriously" and works to uphold accountability.

The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing agents, also said the claims had been investigated and dismissed, with its president, Paul Perez, calling the accusations an attempt to "smear" Banks.

The accusations come as Banks has taken a prominent role in expanding Border Patrol operations beyond the U.S.-Mexico border under the administration of Donald Trump. In a November interview with NewsNation he said of the broader enforcement strategy:

"No city in America is going to be a sanctuary city for anyone who is in this country illegally. We are going to locate those in this country illegally. We're going to prosecute them and deport them"

He also defended the agency's tactics at the time amid legal challenges and protests, stating that agents "know who we're looking for" and that enforcement actions would continue nationwide.