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The Senate confirmed President Biden's choice to lead the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, in a 50-47 vote on Tuesday evening.

Why it matters: Magnus is the first person confirmed to the role since 2019. It comes as the Biden administration seeks to address the record number of migrants arriving at the southern border. He'll be the first openly gay person in the role, per the New York Times.

Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection

Chris Magnus appears before a United States Senate Committee on Finance hearing to consider his nomination to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on October 19

Chris Magnus during a Senate hearing in October in Washington, D.C. Photo: Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty Images)

Migrants

The Senate confirmed President Biden&#x27;s choice to lead the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/biden-border-agency-police-chief-458afee2-5477-4b90-b7af-4f7da7f98660.html" data-vars-content-id="585c46ee-9c97-4819-920a-e8c3fc1d2864" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/biden-border-agency-police-chief-458afee2-5477-4b90-b7af-4f7da7f98660.html" target="_self">Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus</a>, in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a 50-47 vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00483" data-vars-content-id="585c46ee-9c97-4819-920a-e8c3fc1d2864" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00483" target="_blank">a 50-47 vote</a> on Tuesday evening.Why it matters: Magnus is the first person confirmed to the role since 2019. It comes as the Biden administration seeks to address the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="record number of migrants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/border-immigration-deportation-biden-8f532391-4397-4106-9282-0020510cf7ea.html" data-vars-content-id="585c46ee-9c97-4819-920a-e8c3fc1d2864" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/border-immigration-deportation-biden-8f532391-4397-4106-9282-0020510cf7ea.html" target="_self">record number of migrants</a> arriving at the southern border. He&#x27;ll be the first openly gay person in the role, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/us/politics/chris-magnus-cbp-biden.html" data-vars-content-id="585c46ee-9c97-4819-920a-e8c3fc1d2864" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/us/politics/chris-magnus-cbp-biden.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Senate confirms Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection

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