OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Chris Magnus, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, has resigned before being fired. The White House announced that President Joe Biden had accepted his resignation in a press release on Saturday.
“The President has accepted the resignation of Christopher Magnus, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. President Biden appreciates Commissioner Magnus’ nearly forty 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,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Magnus said he was resigning “immediately” in the letter that was shared by the White House.
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Senate-confirmed Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the past year. It has been a privilege and honor to be part of your administration,” he said. “I am submitting my resignation effective immediately but wish you and your administration the very best going forward. Thank you again for this tremendous opportunity.”
Fox News reported:
Magnus was told to resign or be fired by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to a government source. Afterward, Magnus emailed senior Customs and Border Protection staff, stating that he was determined to remain on the job.
“I want to make this clear: I have no plans to resign as CBP Commissioner. I didn’t take this job as a resume builder. I came to Washington, DC— moved my family here— because I care about this agency, its mission, and the goals of this Administration,” the email obtained by Fox News states. His resignation comes after a record-breaking year for the number of migrants attempting to enter the United States through the southern border.
But Mayorkas may be attempting to get the heat off of himself.
In April House Minority Leader and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy said that the impeachment of one of President Joe Biden’s top officials is a real possibility if Republicans take back the House in the Fall.
The leader made the comments about Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a trip to the Southern border with other Congressional Republicans on Monday.
Mayorkas is set to testify before the House this week three times, on Wednesday and Thursday, The Hill reported.
“What’s more important than something that happened 15 months ago on a private conversation with about four other people is what’s happening here right now,” he said, in reference to leaked audio of his negative comments about former President Donald Trump after January 6, 2021.
“This is his moment in time to do his job. But at any time if someone is derelict in their job, there is always the option of impeaching somebody,” he said of the Homeland Security Secretary.
“But right now, he’s got 30 days. His first response to us should be, ‘We should not lift Title 42,’ ” he said. “They’re not prepared to protect, and we cannot sustain what will happen to this nation.”
On Monday a federal judge temporarily block the Biden administration from ending Title 42, a program that hastened deportations during the COVID pandemic.
“The Court discussed the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order [ECF No. 24] filed by Plaintiffs. For the reasons stated on the record, the Court announced its intent to grant the motion. The parties will confer regarding the specific terms to be contained in the Temporary Restraining Order and attempt to reach agreement,” Judge Robert Summerhays said, granting the motion of the more than 20 states who argued against ending the public health authority, CNN reported.
“We applaud the Court for approving our request for a Temporary Restraining Order to keep Title 42 in place,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said. “The Biden administration cannot continue in flagrant disregard for existing laws and required administrative procedures.”
“In a lawsuit originally filed by Missouri, Louisiana, and Arizona, our Office just obtained a temporary restraining order to keep Title 42 in place. This is a huge victory for border security, but the fight continues on,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said.
