US Customs and Border Protection chief resigns after initially declining Biden administration request to step down

After a year of record migrant apprehensions at the US- Mexico border, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection resigned on Saturday.

Chris Magnus had served less than a year in the role.

The White House said that President Biden appreciated Commissioner Magnus' nearly forty years of service and the contributions he made to police reform during his tenure as police chief. The President thanks Mr. Magnus for his service at the Customs and Border Protection agency.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Magnus said that he initially refused to step down from his position after being asked to do so by Mayorkas.

Magnus told the Times that he felt there was no reason for him to resign when he still cared about what he was doing.

Magnus' resignation letter was included in the White House statement.

Over the past year, you have served as the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. It has been a pleasure to be a part of your administration. I am giving up my job immediately but wish you and your administration the very best.

Mayorkas sent a letter to Customs and Border Protection staffers on Saturday stating that Troy Miller would be the acting commissioner after Magnus left.

Mayorkas wrote a letter to Commissioner Magnus and wished him well.

Magnus oversaw over 60,000 employees who were mostly focused on border security and counterterrorism.

The Senate voted 50-47 to confirm him to the role.

The rift between the Biden administration and Magnus came into view after the publication of a recent report that detailed how five administration officials "portrayed him as unengaged in his job, saying he often doesn't attend White House meetings on the situation on the border."

Magnus said in a statement that he was involved in the major DHS immigration, border security, trade, and other policy discussions, but that he needed several months to get acquainted with the department.

The issue of border security has become a major issue for Biden, with Republicans and some Democrats needling the administration over the amount of migrants being caught by agents.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent people to Chicago and New York to protest the federal government's lack of security at the border.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is sending migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard.

The fiscal year that ended in September had the highest number of migrant arrests on record.