US Border Patrol chief Raul Ortiz announces retirement amid Title 42 chaos

US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz announced his retirement this week as tensions continue to simmer over the influx of migrants after the expiration of Title 42.

Ortiz, who has managed about 20,000 Border Patrol agents while in the role for less than two years, said in a letter to colleagues on Tuesday that his last day will be June 30.

“I leave at ease, knowing we have a tremendous uniformed and professional workforce, strong relationships with our union partners, and outstanding leaders who will continue to tirelessly advocate for you each day,” Ortiz wrote.

During his brief tenure as the head of the US Customs and Border Protection’s law enforcement arm, Ortiz oversaw COVID-era policy shifts and emergency Title 42 health restrictions.

In the wake of Title 42’s expiration earlier this month, he also spearheaded the introduction of Title 8, or a series of restrictions meant to curb the influx of migrants at the southern border while opening new legal pathways for immigration.