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Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens is stepping down from his function as head of the company – telling Fox Information that his brokers have given 100% in tough circumstances, together with among the worst circumstances he’s seen in his whole profession.
Owens, who was promoted to Border Patrol Chief in 2023, is retiring in April. Texas Border Czar Mike Banks shall be tapped to be the subsequent chief.
Owens spoke to Fox Information about his time as chief throughout among the most intense moments of the disaster on the southern border. He mentioned it was “bittersweet” as a result of it’s the finish of a chapter in his life.
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President Biden walks with Jason Owens, chief of U.S. Border Patrol, as he visits the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, on Feb. 29. (Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures)
“However on the identical time, it is a completely satisfied one as a result of I really feel like I made my distinction, and it is time to hand it off to the subsequent technology.”
Fox requested him in regards to the surge in border crossings his women and men handled – together with the surge in 2021 in Del Rio and overwhelming numbers at Eagle Move, Texas.
“I hadn’t seen something like that. And it is that was as unhealthy as I had seen it in my whole profession. And at each second, the women and men are looking for a solution to maintain that in order that they may get again on the market on patrol and maintain the unhealthy actors from coming in,” he mentioned.
He described how Border Patrol brokers would go from performing CPR on infants to going after a gang member or convicted felon.
“That takes a toll on anyone. And what I noticed was these women and men cope with that not simply every now and then, however day by day and each single day. Regardless of how annoyed they bought, they stand up the subsequent morning, they put that uniform on they usually went on the market they usually give 100%. I owed them 100% as effectively,” he mentioned.
This picture reveals migrants on the southern border encountered in Arizona. (U.S. Border Patrol)
As for Banks, Owens mentioned he considers him a good friend and mentioned that he’s “assured and optimistic about our future with him on the helm.”
“He loves the Border Patrol similar to I do. And he’ll maintain his concentrate on the mission of conserving this nation protected from hurt,” he mentioned.
Owens additionally mentioned he has “by no means seen a state of affairs the place I might say the border is safe.”
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“As a result of for me, a safe border means if one thing unhealthy tries to return into this nation, I am going to have the ability to detect it and cease it. There’s too many gaps and vulnerabilities at the moment that also exist on our border,” he mentioned.
Outgoing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas praised Owens in an announcement, saying he “embodies the ethos of america Border Patrol – ‘Honor First.’
“Chief Owens has devoted his life to public service. All through his profession within the Border Patrol – from his first task at Calexico Station to his command of the elite BORTAC unit in El Paso, from his management of the USBP Academy to the Laredo Sector, Del Rio Sector, Washington, D.C., and lots of obligation stations in-between – he has all the time stepped up and stepped in at any time when the challenges have been biggest, and wherever his abilities have been most wanted. He rose by way of the ranks of the Border Patrol by advantage of his extraordinary management and his bravery, integrity, and decency,” he mentioned.
“It’s these qualities that made Chief Owens one of the best and proper individual to steer the Border Patrol throughout an intensely tough time. I’m grateful that he accepted the problem, simply as he has accepted so many others all through his distinguished regulation enforcement profession. The Border Patrol, and the Division of Homeland Safety, are stronger at the moment due to Chief Owens,” he mentioned.
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The announcement comes days earlier than President-elect Trump will take workplace, and is predicted to launch a mass deportation operation in addition to renewed efforts to ramp up border safety. On Friday, Kristi Noem, Trump’s choose to steer the Division of Homeland Safety, confronted her affirmation listening to.
Throughout that listening to, she additionally pledged to safe the border, together with promising to finish the usage of the CBP One app and associated parole packages launched by the Biden administration.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox Information Digital, primarily protecting immigration and border safety.
He could be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter.
Border Patrol Chief Owens pronounces retirement, Texas border czar to take over
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