Biden names a Border Patrol veteran in Texas to be the agency's next chief

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/09/ [login to see] /biden-names-a-border-patrol-veteran-in-texas-to-be-the-agencys-next-chief
The Biden administration is tapping Jason Owens, a 27-year veteran of the Border Patrol, to be the agency's next chief.

Owens currently leads the Border Patrol's sector in Del Rio, Texas, which has emerged in recent years as one of the busiest parts of the border.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called Owens a "talented, selfless, and inspiring leader" in a statement announcing the move. "I have worked with Chief Owens; I am inspired by his commitment to the mission, and am grateful to him for his continued service in this new leadership role," Mayorkas said.

Owens will take over when the current Border Patrol chief, Raul Ortiz, steps down at the end of the month.

Ortiz announced his retirement after the end of Title 42, the pandemic border restrictions that expired last month. The number of border apprehensions has dropped sharply since then, though the Biden administration warns that those declines could be temporary.