Biden Eyeing Trump Critics To Lead Border, Immigration Agencies
U.S. President Joe Biden joins a CEO Summit on Semiconductor and Supply Chain Resilience via video conference from the Roosevelt Room at the White House on April 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden joined the summit which focused on the global shortage of semiconductors -- computer chips that run everything from televisions and mobile phones to cars and games consoles -- caused by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Amr Alfiky-Pool/Getty Images

U.S. President Joe Biden has tapped two known Trump critics to lead two major key positions under his administration, according to a White House official.

The said positions were in border and immigration agencies, with Chris Magnus to lead U.S. Customs and Border Protection, while Ur Jaddou as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to a Reuters report.

Magnus is the chief of police in Tucson, Arizona, and set to be responsible for the handling of security and facilitating legal trade and travel in his CBP stint.

Jaddou will handle the immigration paperwork and processing once confirmed as the USCIS director.

Biden's nomination on Magnus and Jaddou must be approved by the Senate. The chamber is divided between Democrats and Republicans, with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.

Magnus and Jaddou Profile

Magnus has been one of the most vocal Trump critics, particularly when he criticized the former president's executive order withholding money to sanctuary cities, according to a Floridian Press report.

The said EO was done as an effort to sway local officials to cooperate with federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants arrested or convicted of serious crime.

Magnus dubbed the move as a "chilling effect on police-community relations."

Meanwhile, Jaddou previously led the Department of Homeland Security review team for Biden's transition. He has also served as a USCIS head counsel from 2014 to 2017 under the Obama administration.

Jaddou has also led DHS watch, which is a project within American's Voice during the Trump administration.

America's Voice is a progressive immigration advocacy firm.

Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas lauded Biden for the nomination of Magnus and Jaddou.

Mayorkas said that the two are highly-regarded and accomplish professionals with related experience to the field.

"Together they will help advance the Department of Homeland Security's mission to ensure the safety and security of the American people," Mayorkas was quoted in a report.

Border Response

Biden has earlier tapped his vice president to address the current border situation. However, Harris has yet to visit the U.S.-Mexico border.

Harris recently faced a backlash after making a trip to a bakery in Chicago, while there is an ongoing crisis at the border for which she was tasked to address.

Harris has been tasked to address the root causes of the surge and will be involved with leaders in countries with the highest number of migrants trying to enter the U.S.

Border Patrol officials have faced 172,000 people trying to enter the U.S. illegally in March, which is a 71 percent increase over February, according to a New York Post report.

Overall, the CBP has already had more than 569,800 encounters this year, marking a 24 percent spike from the total encounters in the fiscal year 2020.

Unaccompanied children from Central America have ballooned to 18,890, which is double the number in February, with 9,297 minors.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has invited Harris on a tour of the border, telling the Democrat vice president that she needs to see it personally to really understand them.

"It will provide firsthand insight into what Arizonans, law enforcement officials, and migrants are experiencing," Brnovich was quoted in a Daily Mail report.

WATCH: Biden administration faces pressure on immigration amid influx - from Al Jazeera English