U.S. Customs and Border Protection chief Chris Magnus has tendered his resignation, U.S. President Joe Biden has accepted it, the White House said.

The president has accepted Magnus' resignation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

She said the president was grateful for Magnus' many years of service and wished him well. A day ago, Jean-Pierre said Biden had confidence in all of his appointees, including Magnus.

The Los Angeles Times wrote Friday that Magnus had been forced to resign amid a record number of illegal crossings of the southern U.S. border. He himself told reporters that the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection, had asked him to resign this week, threatening to fire him if he refused. Magnus, however, has said he intends to keep his job.