Industry News

Tucson Chief of Police Nominated for CBP Commissioner

Apr. 19, 2021


On April 12, 2021 President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Chris Magnus for Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Chris Magnus is the current police chief of Tucson, Arizona and was previously been police chief in the cities of Fargo, North Dakota; Richmond, California; and Tucson, Arizona. The Administration indicated that Magnus was selected,, in part, because of his record of reform in Tucson and Richmond and his support of community policing programs. His experience policing a city close to the U.S.-Mexico border was also an important factor in his nomination.

It is likely that the nomination of someone with Magus’ experience signals an effort by the administration to shift the culture of the agency and signal a new approach for enforcement, particularly with respect to immigration issues. While Magus would not be the first commissioner to come from a law enforcement background, it remains to be seen how this will impact trade issues. Chief Magus will now go before the Senate for confirmation hearings.

If you have any questions about the announcement or what a new CBP commissioner might mean for agency enforcement, do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Barnes, Richardson & Colburn LLP.