The Biden White House has officially accepted the resignation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Christopher Magnus.
"The president has accepted the resignation of Christopher Magnus, the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, according to WhiteHouse.gov. “President Biden appreciates Commissioner Magnus’ nearly 40 years of service and the contributions he made to police reform during his tenure as police chief in three U.S. cities. The president thanks Mr. Magnus for his service at CBP and wishes him well.”
In a short-and-to-the-point letter dated Nov. 12, Magnus said, “It has been a privilege and honor to be part of your administration. I am submitting my resignation effective immediately but wish you and your administration the very best going forward.”
With a background that includes stints as a police commissioner in Fargo, North Dakota, Richmond, California, and Tucson, Arizona, The Washington Post reported that Magnus was confirmed as Border Protection Commissioner in December 2021. His short but colorful tenure was marked by conflicts with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over issues that included balancing calls for reform within CBP and handling migration at the Southern border.
Over time, Magnus explained that he was trying to change policies related to high-speed vehicle chases, staff overtime and cell phone inspections at the border, while Mayorkas was focused on addressing the record numbers of migrants attempting to enter the country from Mexico.
On Nov. 9, Mayorkas asked Magnus to resign, a request he initially refused while adding he would only reconsider if the White House made the request.
Since news of Magnus’ ousting became public, Fox News said that some Congressional Republicans have argued that Magnus was a scapegoat and that Mayorkas should step down.
"The Biden administration found their fall guy for the chaos at the border. Responsibility for the border crisis lies with Joe Biden and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and real accountability starts with Mayorkas being impeached. Every moment the border continues to remain open only heightens the present humanitarian and national security crisis," U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told Fox News.
Cruz isn’t alone in his assessment, with U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) echoing his sentiments.
"Nothing will be fixed at the border until Biden reverses his open-border policies," Scott told Fox News. "Magnus was just another example of the administration’s incompetent handling of our Southern border."
In a tweet, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) said he’s always felt Magnus never showed the level of commitment to the mission of CBP that he should have.
"From the start, Chris Magnus has shown he is not invested in CBP’s main mission: to protect our borders and keep Americans safe,” Gonzalez tweeted on Nov. 14. “His replacement must be someone who supports our BP agents and is committed to our national security."
