WASHINGTON, D.C.— Rep. Greg Stanton today urged President Joe Biden to swiftly nominate a permanent Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The agency has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since late 2022.
“For more than a year, the Senate has not received a nomination for the position tasked with overseeing CBP’s more than 60,000 staff and advancing critical trade, travel and national security objectives,” Stanton wrote. “The dire situation at our southern border requires strong, steady leadership.”
The previous Commissioner, former Tucson police chief Chris Magnus, stepped down November 12, 2022. The agency has been led by a Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, Troy Miller, since Magnus’ resignation.
Stanton’s letter is available HERE and below.
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Dear President Biden,
I write today to request that you swiftly nominate a qualified candidate to be the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since November 12, 2022. For more than a year, the Senate has not received a nomination for the position tasked with overseeing CBP’s more than 60,000 staff and advancing critical trade, travel and national security objectives.
The dire situation at our southern border requires strong, steady leadership. Last month saw a record 302,000 migrant encounters. Critical ports of entry—including the Lukeville POE in Arizona—were closed for much of December as CBP shifted resources to respond to the influx of migrants ,disrupting the cross-border economy during the busy holiday season. And in fiscal year 2023, CBP seized nearly twice as much illicit fentanyl as it did the previous year.
I ask that you use every tool at your disposal to ensure that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has the leadership and resources to meet this moment. I’m working across the aisle in Congress to pass an emergency supplemental that matches your request for more resources for CBP—including funding for 1,300 additional border patrol agents, 1,000 additional officers focused on counter-fentanyl efforts and cutting-edge technology. But in the meantime, you have the power to ensure the CBP has a leader.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.