The vote was 50-47, with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine voting in favor of Magnus.
Magnus, who served as police chief in Tucson, Arizona, will inherit an company of greater than 60,000 workers, placing him accountable for the biggest federal legislation enforcement company and the second-largest revenue-collecting supply within the federal authorities. Customs and Border Safety hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed chief since 2019.
“There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that Chief Magnus has the precise {qualifications} for this place,” Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, mentioned Tuesday on the Senate flooring. “His vary of expertise in legislation enforcement all around the nation makes him a great choose to guide an company with tens of hundreds of workers staffing greater than 300 factors of entry to the US.”
Magnus acknowledged the problem earlier than him throughout his nomination listening to in October, saying: “Quite a lot of colleagues, family and friends members have requested me, ‘What are you pondering?’ Why would I select to tackle the vital however difficult duty of main CBP at this second?”
“I wish to make a distinction,” he mentioned.
As head of the company, Magnus might be accountable, partially, for managing two controversial Trump-era border insurance policies which were saved in place or reimplemented underneath the Biden administration.
“As a paramedic for 10 years public well being has at all times been one in every of my prime issues, and due to that I believe it is completely crucial that we do all the things attainable to cease the unfold of Covid. And Title 42 is a CDC authority, and I believe it helps with this,” Magnus mentioned through the listening to.
Profession official Troy Miller has led Customs and Border Safety in an appearing capability since Biden took workplace in January. A number of prime profession officers on the company who had served within the Trump administration both left or have been compelled out after Biden entered workplace, making the change in management much more notable.
