Controversial Biden Customs and Border Protections nominee confirmed

President Joe Biden's nominee for Customs and Border Protection Director, Chris Magnus, was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday. 

The Tucson, Arizona, police chief secured his position with unanimous support from Senate Democrats in a 50-47 vote. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also voted in his favor, while Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) did not vote.

Magnus' nomination was opposed by the National Sheriffs' Association and the Arizona Sheriffs' Association. The law enforcement groups said Magnus did not assist Border Patrol agents as police chief, and he does not have enough experience to lead the federal group.

Magnus deleted his Twitter last week after making comments about police officers' use of force at his department.

Sexual harassment and retaliation allegations against Magnus were settled out of court in 2017 for an undisclosed sum, Fox News reports.

He faced another lawsuit as a police chief in Richmond, California. Magnus was accused of making racist jokes against black cops, but the 2007 lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.

The now CBP head stood against the Trump administration's fight against sanctuary cities, writing in a 2017 New York Times op-ed that Tucson is not a sanctuary city but takes "pride in being welcoming to immigrants."

"Justice Department grants and other federal support funded through our taxes should not be tied to immigration policies," he wrote.

During his committee hearing on Tuesday, Magnus described the images that conjured false claims of Border Patrol agents whipping migrants as "troubling."