Border Patrol chief tapped as immigration crackdown continues

Angélica Franganillo Diaz, Bloomberg News on Jun 1, 2026

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection named Rosario “Pete” Vasquez as chief of the U.S. Border Patrol on Monday, as the Trump administration seeks to sustain a sharp decline in illegal border crossings.

Vasquez most recently served as chief patrol agent of the Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector in Washington state. During his 26-year career, he held assignments along the southwest and northern borders, at CBP headquarters, and overseas, including as assistant attaché in Canada, according to a press release. He also served in the agency’s Special Operations Group and Office of Anti-Terrorism.

“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, Secretary Mullin, and Commissioner Scott,” Vasquez said in a statement. “Our agents have never backed down from a challenge, and neither will I.”

“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,” he added.

Vasquez takes over as the Trump administration presses ahead with an aggressive immigration enforcement agenda and seeks to sustain historically low levels of illegal border crossings. Border Patrol arrests rose for a third consecutive month in April, though they remain far below levels seen during the Biden administration.

He succeeds Michael Banks, who left the agency last month. As chief, Vasquez will oversee nearly 20,000 Border Patrol agents and professional staff nationwide.

“Pete Vasquez is a Border Patrol agent’s agent,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement Monday.

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