Washington, D.C. – As the agency shores up resources with passage of President Trump’s budget bill, the chief of United States Border Patrol says the agency is “paying particular attention’ to ensuring the northern border is protected.
“We’re going to spread those resources out appropriately based on the threat,” Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks told Flag Family’s Scott Hennen in Washington D.C.. “The northern border is a big concern for us.”
Asked what kind of issues agents face at the northern border, Banks said it’s “a little bit of everything” including illegal drugs such as fentanyl coming in from Canada.
“We’re investing very heavily on the northern border because we know there’s a vast open expansive area,” said Banks.
Listen: Part of Scott Hennen’s exclusive interview with Michael Banks
Banks says they received “substantial funding” thanks to President Trump’s spending bill signed in July, which Banks says will be spread more evenly
“Northern border and our coastal sectors have not received the resources and funding anywhere because everything was so focused on the southwest border,” said Banks.
“We’re going to do a lot and we’re going to do it fast.”
Banks says their plan is to build a “wall system” that will consist of more lighting, ground-sensing technology and cameras.
“Our biggest goal is focusing on situational awareness, being able to see and detect anything that crosses the border between the port of entry and being able to respond,” said Banks.
Banks says they’re also working on “persistent” 24/7 drone surveillance.
“If you go back to the prior [Biden] administration, you may recall a lot of people on the terror watch list were crossing over the northern border, so we’re going to shut that down,” said Banks.
