The Senate confirmed Chris Magnus as the next U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Dec. 7, following a close vote.
The final vote was 50-47, with 3 senators not voting, according to the Senate website.
In the announcement of the nomination in April, the White House in a statement cited Magnus’ "reputation as a progressive police leader who focused on relationship-building between the police and community, implementing evidence-based best practices, promoting reform, and insisting on police accountability."
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) cited Magnus's experience in law-enforcement in his remarks to Congress prior to the vote, according to the Congressional record.
"Now, there is no doubt in my mind that Chief Magnus has the right qualifications for this position," Wyden (D-OR) stated. "He started out in Lansing, MI, and has headed up law enforcement agencies across the country — East, West, North, and South."
However, not everyone was on board with the nomination. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee that considered the nomination, cited the record number of apprehensions at the southern border in discussing his opposition to the nomination.
"I cannot understand why the Administration refuses to call this the crisis that it is—other than to avoid taking responsibility and committing the requisite resources to address it. The nominee was asked by Members of this Committee multiple times to acknowledge we face a crisis. He declined to do so," Portman said.
In fiscal year 2021, the CBP apprehended a record 1.7 million people at the border, a 1.2 million increase from the year prior.
CBP is one of the world's largest law enforcement agencies in the world with more than 60,000 employees. Its missions include securing the border, countering terrorism, facilitating trade, and enforcing trade regulations.
Prior to his role as CBP commissioner, Magnus served as the police chief in Tucson, Ariz. He previously served in the Lansing, Mich. police department and as police chief in Fargo, North Dakota, and Richmond, Calif.
As commissioner, Magnus will oversee the Border Patrol, according to that agency's website. Border Patrol has more than 21,000 agents tasked with patrolling U.S. borders and apprehending people entering the country illegally.
