NEWS: Kelly, Sinema on Confirmation of Chris Magnus to Lead CBP

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema released the following statements after the Senate voted 50-47 to confirm Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus to serve as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Kelly and Sinema had previously introduced Magnus at his confirmation hearing in the Senate Committee on Finance.

“This bipartisan vote gives Arizona much-needed leadership at Customs and Border Protection at a time when we continue to face challenges at the border demonstrated by the increase in migrants in the Yuma Sector over the past two days. Chris Magnus brings experience and understanding of Southern Arizona that will be important for his new role leading CBP as we continue working to secure the border, upgrade our ports of entry, and ensure a more orderly and humane process at the border that doesn’t fall on Arizona communities,” said Kelly.

“Today’s confirmation of Chris Magnus to be Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection underscores the Senate’s trust in his exceptional qualifications and history of service. This confirmation represents a step toward improving how the federal government manages and secures the border. I look forward to working with Commissioner Magnus to secure the border, protect our communities, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee.”

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was led by Sinema, supported by Kelly, and recently signed into law, includes funding for the second half of the San Luis Port of Entry upgrade project, as well as $237.6 million for a new law port of entry in Douglas and $202.5 million for modernization of all existing structures and expanding processing capacity at the existing Raul Hector Castro Port.