Days before Vice President Kamala Harris told a national television audience that the U.S. southwest border is “secure,” the Arizona Sheriff’s Association informed President Joe Biden it has adopted a position of No Confidence in the ability of former Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus to continue leading U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP is the largest federal law enforcement agency, with direct responsibility for more than 300 ports of entry. In addition, one of CBP’s divisions is the U.S. Border Patrol, responsible for all border lands between the ports of entry.
The Sept. 6 letter from the sheriff’s association calls CBP efforts “woefully inadequate” in addressing illegal activity along Arizona’s 370 mile border with Mexico. It is signed by Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.
“For decades, curbing the number of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs crossing the border has been a priority for law enforcement,” the letter reads. “Unfortunately, the current administration and Commissioner Magnus do not appear to share this priority and the effects are being felt in Arizona and across the country.”
The sheriffs go on to note they have seen a continued influx of undocumented immigrants and illicit drugs crossing America’s southwest border in the months since Magnus was confirmed last year to run CBP.
“What we have not seen is an increased partnership from the federal government including CBP to assist local law enforcement in preventing this activity,” according to the letter.
The letter also reminds Biden that the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association did not support Magnus’ nomination last year to lead CBP’s more than 60,000 employees.
An Oct. 12, 2021, letter signed by Dannels prior to Magnus appearing in front of Congress for his confirmation hearing cited multiple concerns, including Magnus’ lack of federal law enforcement experience. Another was the then-Tucson PD Chief’s rejection of Operation Stonegarden federal grant funding which were available to help the department address border security, gun crimes, and drug trafficking.
The lack of action by the Biden Administration to the overwhelming situation at the southwest border came under further scrutiny this past Sunday when Meet The Press aired an interview with Harris. The vice president has been roundly criticized for “incoherent” answers to questions about the border.
The vice president was particularly panned for her lack of specificity about the tide of people crossing into the U.S., many of whom do not comply with immigration laws. At one point, host Chuck Todd pushed back on Harris for describing the border as secure.
“We’re going to have two million people cross this border for the first time ever,” Todd said to the vice president. “You’re confident this border’s secure?”
Harris explained the border is secure simply because it “is a priority for any nation, including ours and our administration.” She then pivoted to comments about a path to citizenship and bipartisanship while never mentioning the monthslong complaints coming from border communities or the organizations such as the National Border Patrol Council.
More gobbledygook from the Barney Fife admin. Border is "secure" & the usual head fake "broken immigration system" nonsense.
Real world: border not close to secure, millions entering, up to 240 miles not patrolled as BP processes fraudulent asylum claimants, 800 dead this year. https://t.co/BhNtedjBRQ
— Border Patrol Union – NBPC (@BPUnion) September 12, 2022
