On Monday, US President Joe Biden announced that he will nominate Tuscon Police Chief Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection. Magnus’ nomination is one of six announced for roles in the Department of Homeland Security.

Over the past few years, Magnus has publicly criticized the immigration policies of former President Donald Trump.

Magnus was the City of Richmond’s Police Chief for approximently 10-years beginning in 2006.

According to his biography,  during his time with the Richmond Police Department, he was significantly involved in strengthening ties between the community and its police force, addressing historically high levels of crime, and implementing reforms within the police department.  Both violent and property crime decreased significantly during Magnus’ tenure and community support for the Richmond Police Department substantially improved.

Here is the information via The White House:

President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Members for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate key leadership for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; John Tien for Deputy Secretary, Jen Easterly for Director of Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Ur Jaddou for Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Chris Magnus for Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Jonathan Meyer for General Counsel, and Robert Silvers for Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans.

Chris Magnus, Nominee for Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection

Chris Magnus is currently the police chief in Tucson, Arizona, a diverse city close to the U.S.-Mexican border.  His lengthy career in public safety includes coming up through the ranks of the Lansing, Michigan Police Department, and serving as police chief in the cities of Fargo, North Dakota, Richmond, California, and Tucson, Arizona.  In each of these cities Magnus developed a reputation as a progressive police leader who focused on relationship-building between the police and community, implementing evidence-based best practices, promoting reform, and insisting on police accountability.  During his time in Richmond, Magnus played a key role in rebuilding community trust in law enforcement and dramatically reducing the number of shootings and homicides.  In Tucson, Magnus implemented de-escalation training, sentinel event review processes, and programs to promote officer health and wellness.  Because of Tucson’s proximity to the border, he has extensive experience in addressing immigration issues. Magnus grew up in Lansing, Michigan, the son of an immigrant from Oslo, Norway.  He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and his master’s degree in Labor Relations from Michigan State University. Magnus attended the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.  He has been with his husband, Terrance Cheung, for 15 years.