Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz to retire with end of Title 42 immigration restrictions

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said he will retire June 30, leaving the agency after overseeing record illegal immigration numbers and the end of the pandemic-era Title 42 immigration restrictions.

"I leave at ease, knowing we have a tremendous uniformed and professional workforce, strong relationships with our union partners, and outstanding leaders who will continue to tirelessly advocate for you each day," Ortiz said in a note to staff Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

Ortiz became Border Patrol chief in August 2021 after spending more than three decades working at the agency. When he assumed the top position, Title 42, a public health order that allowed migrants to be quickly expelled from the U.S., had been in place since March 2020. Title 42 ended earlier this month.

During his nearly two years leading the Border Patrol, agents encountered more than 4 million migrants at the U.S. border.

It is unclear who will replace Ortiz.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.