Tucson Police Department Chief Chris Magnus faced questioning Tuesday on his nomination to lead U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Magnus described himself to members of the Senate Finance Committee as wanting to bring a balance to the federal government's largest law enforcement agency.
"It's essential to recognize that what we think of as the border is not homogenous and there is no one solution that will provide us with perfect border security," Magnus said in his opening statement. "So, if confirmed, I will do what I have always done, which is to uphold the law. I will expect without exception that all agency personnel be conscientious, fair and humane when enforcing the law."
If confirmed by the Senate, Magnus would take over Customs and Border Protection at a time when it is under scrutiny.
The police chief pledged to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, that he would push for transparency in an investigation of the Border Patrol's handling of Haitian migrants.
Meanwhile, Republicans questioned President Joe Biden's approach to the border.
The police chief said it was imperative that the agency work to prevent the spread of COVID-19, adding that he believed the controversial pandemic-era Title 42 policies help.
And asked if he agreed there are places where the federal government should build walls along the border, Magnus said: "I think there are some gaps where that could make sense."
Biden nominated Magnus for the post last spring but his nomination stalled Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, demanded information about the Department of Homeland Security's role in the Black Lives Matters protests during the summer of 2020.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees Customs and Border Protection.
The Oregon Democrat recently met with Homeland Security officials and lifted the hold on the Magnus nomination.
"We really want to move this. This is a very important nomination," Wyden said at the end of Tuesday's hearing.
Members of the committee have until Sunday to submit additional questions in writing.
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