Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan will be leaving job, the agency announced Thursday, after just seven months on the job.

His departure comes just a day after President Trump issued a broad set of new directives to Border Patrol agents to step up enforcement of existing laws.

Customs and Border Protection announced the move in a brief statement thanking Chief Morgan for his long government service, including 20 years in the FBI

His last day will be Jan. 31.

Chief Morgan made news last year when he disagreed with the Obama administration’s stance on the new illegal immigrant surge, saying lax enforcement policies were enticing more migrants to attempt to breach the border.

He also said he was having to pull his trained agents off their duties to act as “child care providers” for the children being nabbed at the border.

No reason was given for Chief Morgan’s departure, but he has tangled with the National Border Patrol Council, the labor union that represents line agents. The NBPC had wanted to see someone promoted from within the ranks, rather than someone from another law enforcement agency put in the leadership post.

The NBPC has become a powerful political force after endorsing Mr. Trump in the presidential election.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.