- Friday was Friday when the US Customs and Border Protection head stated that he had been asked for his resignation.
- Chris Magnus, CBP Commissioner said that Alejandro Mayorkas DHS Secretary made the request.
- Magnus stated to the Los Angeles Times that his plans are to remain in his current position.
He was sworn into office less than a year ago. Friday’s announcement by the Biden administration indicated that they are pushing for his replacement.
In An interviewAccording to the Los Angeles Times Chris Magnus, chief of US Customs and Border Protection said that he was twice asked this week to resign. Magnus, a former Tuscon police chief, was elected to his post last December by a vote of 50 to 47 in the Senate.
Magnus stated that Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, made the request earlier in the week. Magnus claims that Mayorkas threatened to fire him if he didn’t submit his resignation. Magnus stated that another DHS official reiterated the threat on Thursday.
Magnus stated to the Times, “I told him that I didn’t feel it was right for me to resign because I still care deeply about the work that I was doing and that that work was focused around the things that I was hired to do.”
DHS did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Magnus is currently the head of the largest federal law enforcement agency, which includes members of the US Border Patrol. Magnus claims that Mayorkas asked him to resign after the CBP commissioner ruled against giving a “retention bonus” to the head of Border Patrol. This was based on philosophical differences.
Republicans attack the Biden administration’s inaction to prevent illegal crossings despite having enforced strict border measures including Title 42, a Trump-era order of public health that bars most migrants exercising their legal right at port of entry to ask for asylum.
The number crossing the US-Mexico border by migrants is now lower than it was in 2000. DHS. However, this is only a part Title 42 compelling many asylum-seekers to illegally cross the border to present their claims — and with those detained under the policy often immediately expelled, not formally deported, better enabling repeat attempts — CBP Last monthA record number of apprehensions was reported.
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