ExBay chief to lead on border
President Joe Biden plans to nominate former Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus to serve as the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a statement from the White House.
Magnus, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, served as head of the Richmond Police Department from 2006 until 2016 when he began serving as chief of police in Tucson.
His nomination is one of six nominations announced Mon
day within the Department of Homeland Security.
“Together they will help advance the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to ensure the safety and security of the American people,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement, referring to the six nominees.
If confirmed, Magnus would be tasked with handling an expected increase of border crossings, reuniting immigrant children with their families, and safely moving unaccompanied immigrant youth from border patrol jails to shelters across the U.S.
“I am, of course, very hon
ored to be nominated by the president to lead Customs and Border Protection,” Magnus said in a statement. “I look forward to speaking with senators and hearing their thoughts and concerns.” He added that as the Senate moved forward with deliberations, he remained “committed to serving as (Tucson’s) Chief of Police to the best of my ability.”
Biden selected Magnus to lead the agency based on his progressive police record and his recent work policing a city near the U.S.Mexico border, according to a White House statement. He is a member of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force, an organization working toward immigration reform.
“Chris Magnus has realworld experience as a police chief along the border who has prioritized public safety and community trust,” Ali
Noorani, the president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, said in a statement. “He understands that security requires us to treat all people, including migrants, with dignity.”
Magnus was appointed police chief in Richmond to reform the department during a time when demographics were rapidly shifting to a high Latino immigrant population.
As chief, he advocated for governmentissued ID cards for undocumented immigrants to allow them to open bank accounts, rent apartments and participate in civic life. He also called for the city to stop impounding vehicles from unlicensed immigrants.
During his 10year tenure in Richmond, Magnus led efforts to improve community policing and promote police reform and accountability, overseeing a large decline of crime in the city.
Magnus was said to have fired, suspended and demoted more police officers in his first few years as chief than any of his predecessors, a practice that he is expected to carry out in his new role as commissioner.
In 2014, Magnus married Terrance Cheung, the chief of staff to Richmond Mayor Tom Butt. He was said to be the first openly gay male police chief to marry.
Magnus received national attention after attending a Bay Area protest in 2014 where he held up a sign reading “Black Lives Matter.” The Richmond officers union criticized him, but he vowed he would do it again.
Magnus also served in police departments in Michigan and North Dakota, according to the White House.