Trump admin appoints veteran Rosario Vasquez as Border chief

The Trump administration has selected a veteran Border Patrol official to lead the agency, naming Rosario "Pete" Vasquez as the new chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the appointment Monday, filling the vacancy left by former Chief Mike Banks, who retired in May after 37 years of federal service.

Vasquez, a 26-year veteran of the Border Patrol, will command nearly 20,000 agents and professional staff responsible for securing nearly 7,000 miles of international land borders and approximately 2,000 miles of coastal waters. He most recently served as chief patrol agent of the Border Patrol's Blaine Sector in Washington state, overseeing operations along the U.S.-Canada border.

CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott praised the selection, calling Vasquez "a Border Patrol agent's agent." In a statement, Scott said Vasquez has spent more than two decades leading from the front and delivering results in challenging environments. "He understands what this mission demands because he has lived it," Scott said.

Vasquez's extensive career includes service with the Border Patrol's Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit and its Special Operations Group. He has...