Biden Names Picks for USCIS, CBP (Jaddou; Magnus)

White House, Apr. 12, 2021

"Ur Jaddou, Nominee for Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services

Ur Mendoza Jaddou has two decades of experience in immigration law, policy, and administration.  Most recently, she was the Director of DHS Watch, a project of America’s Voice, where she shined a light on immigration policies and administration that failed to adhere to basic principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability.  She is an adjunct professor of law at American University, Washington College of Law and counsel at Potomac Law Group, PLLC.  Previously, Jaddou was the Chief Counsel for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from June 2014 to January 2017.  Jaddou’s experience on immigration policy began as counsel to U.S. House of Representative Zoe Lofgren (2002-2007) and later as Chief Counsel to the House Immigration Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Lofgren (2007-2011).  Jaddou has also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional, Global and Functional Affairs in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (2012-2014).  Jaddou is a daughter of immigrants – a mother from Mexico and a father from Iraq – born and raised in Chula Vista, California.  She received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Stanford University and a law degree from UCLA School of Law. 

Chris Magnus, Nominee for Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection

Chris Magnus is currently the police chief in Tucson, Arizona, a diverse city close to the U.S.-Mexican border.  His lengthy career in public safety includes coming up through the ranks of the Lansing, Michigan Police Department, and serving as police chief in the cities of Fargo, North Dakota, Richmond, California, and Tucson, Arizona.  In each of these cities Magnus developed a reputation as a progressive police leader who focused on relationship-building between the police and community, implementing evidence-based best practices, promoting reform, and insisting on police accountability.  During his time in Richmond, Magnus played a key role in rebuilding community trust in law enforcement and dramatically reducing the number of shootings and homicides.  In Tucson, Magnus implemented de-escalation training, sentinel event review processes, and programs to promote officer health and wellness.  Because of Tucson’s proximity to the border, he has extensive experience in addressing immigration issues. Magnus grew up in Lansing, Michigan, the son of an immigrant from Oslo, Norway.  He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and his master’s degree in Labor Relations from Michigan State University. Magnus attended the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.  He has been with his husband, Terrance Cheung, for 15 years."