The latest episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features the audio of a recent sit-down between Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Michael Banks, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. During an in-depth discussion, Chief Banks touched on the current state of border security, including apprehension numbers, maritime illegal immigration, northern border challenges, gotaways, recruitment efforts, the role of the National Guard, and more.

Appointed to lead the agency earlier this year, Banks is a former Border Patrol agent with more than 30 years of federal law enforcement and border security experience. His tenure comes at a critical time, as heightened immigration policy debates dominate the national conversation.

Host

Mark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.

Guest

Michael Banks is the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Related

Panel Press Release

Panel Video

C-Span Coverage

CIS Live Stream

Panel Transcript

Intro Montage

Voices in the opening montage:

Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.
Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.
President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.
Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.
Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.
Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.
Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.
Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.
Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.
Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.
Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Immigration Newsmaker: A Conversation with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks