In the midst of an ongoing crisis, and after an ultimatum forced his hand, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus has resigned effective immediately.
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Senate confirmed Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the past year,” Magnus wrote in a Saturday letter to President Biden. “It has been a privilege and honor to be part of your administration.”
“I am submitting my resignation effective immediately but wish you and your administration the very best going forward,” the letter continued. “Thank you again for this tremendous opportunity.”
Eleven days ago, I joined @CongressmanHice in demanding President Biden hold CBP Commissioner Magnus accountable for sleeping through the raging border crisis and threatening our national security.
Today, Magnus resigned.
This is only the beginning. Accountability is coming. pic.twitter.com/63lqDzpnga
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) November 13, 2022
The resignation comes less than two weeks after Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) led a group of 15 Republican lawmakers demanding that Biden request it from the embattled border chief.
“Magnus has been sleeping through and skipping high-level meetings about the complex crisis at our southern border,” Hice tweeted at the start of the month. “Americans deserve better!”
Today I led 15 GOP colleagues in a letter to President Biden demanding he formally requests @CBP Commissioner Magnus's resignation.
Magnus has been sleeping through and skipping high-level meetings about the complex crisis at our southern border.
Americans deserve better! pic.twitter.com/LHPwegymo7
— Jody Hice (@JodyHiceFRCA) November 1, 2022
As American Wire previously reported, Magnus was accused by six “internal critics” of literally sleeping on the job, “including one earlier this year on how to handle the current swell of Venezuelans crossing the border.”
Magnus dismissed the allegations, claiming his unscheduled naps were the result of side effects from medication he takes for multiple sclerosis, a condition for which he received a diagnosis 15 years ago. After adjusting his meds, he said he would be fine.
“Ironically, the most common complaint I’ve received from colleagues is about my tendency to ask too many questions in meetings and my desire to know what some believe is more than necessary on various topics,” he told POLITICO, adding that he intends “to remain fully engaged in the work of leading CBP and advocating on behalf of those who work here as well as for the American public.”
‘He’s not in the game’: Biden’s top border chief blasted for literally sleeping on the job amid border crisis https://t.co/T9JWNxrwtQ
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) October 17, 2022
But administrative officials weren’t convinced.
“He’s not in the game,” one of the officials said. “Every time there’s a meeting and he’s in it, we’ll get to a conclusion and Magnus will have some sidebar issue that he wants to raise and we’re all like ‘What the f**k is that about?'”
According to the sources, Magnus was more concerned with “reforming the culture of the Border Patrol, addressing its long list of allegations of racism and violence” than he is with getting to know CBP operations, and he enjoyed playing the blame game.
“As an example, two of the five current administration officials said Magnus brought his boss, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, pages of grievances about Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” POLITICO wrote. “While CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders at and between ports of entry, ICE is the agency responsible for arresting and detaining undocumented people within U.S. borders.”
On Wednesday, reported the Los Angeles Times, Mayorkas gave Magnus an ultimatum: Resign, or he would recommend that President Biden fire him.
“The next day, John Tien, the second in command at the Department of Homeland Security, also told Magnus that he should resign or else be fired within the next few days,” the Times revealed.
At the time, Magnus refused.
“I expressed to him that I felt there was no justification for me to resign when I still cared deeply about the work I was doing and felt that that work was focused on the things I was hired to do in the first place,” Magnus stated.
Ultimately, however, the threats clearly worked.
In a letter to the CBP workforce following the resignation, Mayorkas said he was “thankful” for Magnus’s contributions, according to ABC7, which adds that “Deputy Commissioner Troy Miller will serve in the interim.”
In a White House statement, Biden, too, expressed his gratitude.
“The President has accepted the resignation of Christopher Magnus, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” the statement reads. “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.”
Biden’s willingness to push Magnus out has fueled speculation online, given that the chief appeared to favor the administration’s lax border policies.
One Twitter user theorizes the timing may have to do with the midterm elections and a likely Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
“More coverups from Biden and the Globalist that need to hide their true agenda,” the user wrote. “Chris Magnus is their scapegoat, now that Biden knows that the Republican majority in the House, plans to bring many investigations.”
More coverups from Biden and the Globalist that need to hide their true agenda. Chris Magnus is their scapegoat, now that Biden knows that the Republican majority in the House, plans to bring many investigations. pic.twitter.com/znQbsPFUW2
— V. Z (@VictorZevelton) November 13, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.