On April 12, 2021, President Biden announced his intent to nominate members for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among his selections are Ur Mendoza Jaddou for Director of Citizenship and Immigration and Chris Magnus for Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. En español
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency responsible for overseeing lawful migration into the United States. Some of the agency’s services include processing immigration applications, establishing immigration service policies, and regulating employment within the U.S.
Ur Mendoza Jaddou, the nominee for the agency director, has two decades of experience in immigration law, policy, and administration. Her extensive knowledge stems from her work as counsel to U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren and her position as Chief Counsel to the House Immigration Subcommittee. Most recently, she acted as the Director of DHS Watch and helped bolster immigration policies that were subpar from a transparency standpoint. She also served as Chief Counsel for USCIS from 2014 to 2017. She is currently an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law.
On May 26, 2021, Jaddou appeared in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for her hearing. Although not officially confirmed, it is rumored that the nomination will pass with bipartisan support.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations. This entity is responsible for facilitating international travel and trade. The agency primarily focuses on enforcing immigration laws and preventing the smuggling of contraband.
Chris Magnus, the nominee for commissioner of the CBP, served as a police chief in many different American cities before settling into his position in Tucson, Arizona. Magnus has established himself as a progressive officer who advocates for strong relationships between police forces and community members. He has enforced evidence-based practices, promoted reform, and advocated for police accountability throughout his career. In Tucson, Magnus has worked to implement effective de-escalation training, sentinel event review processes, and officer wellness initiatives. Since Tucson is close to the U.S. – Mexico border, Magnus and his 800-member police force have extensive experience dealing with immigration issues. They label themselves as an “immigrant-welcoming community.”
Magnus‘ senate confirmation has yet to take place.
