History of Alejandro Mayorkas in Timeline
Alejandro Nicolas Mayorkas is an American attorney and government official who served as the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he has held prominent roles within the Department of Homeland Security, including Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009-2013) and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2016). His career has focused on immigration and homeland security matters within the U.S. government.
November 24, 1959: Alejandro Mayorkas's Birth
On November 24, 1959, Alejandro Nicolas Mayorkas was born. This marks the beginning of his life and career in public service.
1960: Family flees to the United States
In 1960, Mayorkas and his family fled Cuba and immigrated to the United States.
1981: Graduation from UC Berkeley
In 1981, Mayorkas graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction.
1985: Graduation from Loyola Law School
In 1985, Mayorkas received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.
1989: Assistant United States Attorney
In 1989, Mayorkas became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California.
1996: Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section
In 1996, Mayorkas served as Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section.
December 21, 1998: Appointment as United States Attorney
On December 21, 1998, Mayorkas was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
1998: United States Attorney for the Central District of California
In 1998, Mayorkas became the United States Attorney for the Central District of California in Los Angeles.
1998: End of tenure as Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section
In 1998, Mayorkas's tenure as Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section came to an end.
2000: Involvement in Carlos Vignali Jr. Clemency Efforts
In 2000, Mayorkas participated in efforts to obtain executive clemency for narcotics trafficker Carlos Vignali Jr.
January 2001: Clinton Commutes Vignali's Sentence
In January 2001, President Clinton commuted Carlos Vignali's 15-year prison sentence.
September 2001: Joins O'Melveny & Myers
In September 2001, Mayorkas joined O'Melveny & Myers as a litigation partner.
November 2008: Selected for Presidential Transition Role
In November 2008, Mayorkas was selected for a role in the presidential transition leading up to the inauguration of Barack Obama.
2008: Named One of the '50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America'
In 2008, The National Law Journal named Mayorkas one of the "50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America".
May 20, 2009: Nomination Received by Senate
On May 20, 2009, Mayorkas's nomination as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was received by the Senate.
August 7, 2009: Nomination Confirmed by Senate
On August 7, 2009, Mayorkas's nomination as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was confirmed by the Senate.
2009: Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
In 2009, Mayorkas became the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
2009: Obama Presidential Transition Team
In 2009, Mayorkas was a member of the presidential transition team for Barack Obama, leading the team responsible for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division.
January 2010: Haiti earthquake relief
In January 2010, Mayorkas led U.S. government efforts to rescue orphaned children following the earthquake in Haiti.
January 2010: Led Efforts to Rescue Orphans Following Haiti Earthquake
In January 2010, as USCIS director, Mayorkas led U.S. government efforts to rescue orphaned children following the earthquake in Haiti.
June 2013: Nominated as Deputy Secretary
In June 2013, Mayorkas was nominated by President Obama as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
December 20, 2013: Confirmed as Deputy Secretary
On December 20, 2013, Mayorkas was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
2013: Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2013, Mayorkas became the sixth Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
2013: OIG Investigation Begins
In 2013, an investigation began into Mayorkas's oversight of the EB-5 investor visa program by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG).
2013: Led DHS Response to Ebola Virus Epidemic
In 2013, as Deputy Secretary, Mayorkas led the DHS's response to the Ebola virus epidemic.
May 2015: House Homeland Security Committee Testimony
In May 2015, Mayorkas testified before the House Homeland Security Committee regarding the OIG report and expressed regret.
2015: OIG Report Criticizes EB-5 Oversight
In 2015, a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) report criticized Mayorkas's oversight of the EB-5 investor visa program.
2015: Led DHS Response to Zika Virus Epidemic
In 2015, as Deputy Secretary, Mayorkas led the DHS's response to the Zika virus epidemic.
October 2016: Joins Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
In October 2016, Mayorkas joined the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in Washington, D.C.
2016: End of term as Deputy Secretary
In 2016, Mayorkas's term as the sixth Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security came to an end.
November 23, 2020: Nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security
On November 23, 2020, Joe Biden nominated Mayorkas for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security.
January 2021: Increase in Encounters with Removable Noncitizens
Beginning in January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a significant increase in nationwide encounters with removable noncitizens across the country.
February 2, 2021: Confirmation and Swearing-In as Secretary of Homeland Security
On February 2, 2021, Mayorkas was confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security by the Senate and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris the same day.
May 2021: Establishment of Family Reunification Task Force
In May 2021, Mayorkas led the establishment of a task force dedicated to reuniting families separated at the southern border during the Trump administration.
June 2021: Surge in Arrests at the Border
In June 2021, the monthly number of intercepted migrants reached a decade high of 188,800 at the Mexico-United States border.
September 2021: Controversy over Border Patrol Actions
In September 2021, a photo of Border Patrol agents controlling horses near Haitian migrants generated outrage; Mayorkas initially defended their actions but later condemned them and pledged to investigate.
October 19, 2021: Tests Positive for COVID-19
On October 19, 2021, Mayorkas tested positive for COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms and forcing him to cancel a trip.
2021: Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2021, Mayorkas became the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
April 27, 2022: Testimony on Disinformation Working Group
On April 27, 2022, Mayorkas testified regarding the Biden administration's implementation of a Disinformation Working Group in the DHS.
October 2022: Release of Emails Disproving 'Whipping' Claim
In October 2022, emails were released showing that Mayorkas received information disproving claims that Border Patrol agents were "whipping" Haitian migrants, leading to further criticism and calls for his impeachment.
2022: Record Encounters at the U.S.-Mexico Border
In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a record 2.2 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border.
2022: Record Number of Encounters at the Border
In fiscal year 2022, there was a record 2.2 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, marking the highest in history.
October 31, 2023: Testimony on Unapprehended Individuals
On October 31, 2023, Mayorkas testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that over 600,000 people illegally entered the U.S. without being apprehended during the 2023 fiscal year.
November 9, 2023: Motion to Impeach Mayorkas Filed
On November 9, 2023, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to impeach Mayorkas, citing a dereliction of duty related to the Southern border.
2023: Reunification of Separated Families
By early 2023, approximately 600 children had been reunited with their parents through the task force led by Mayorkas.
January 17, 2024: House Passes Resolution Denouncing Border Handling
On January 17, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution denouncing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the U.S. southern border by a vote of 225–187.
January 28, 2024: House Republicans Introduce Articles of Impeachment
On January 28, 2024, House Republicans introduced two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, alleging "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and breach of the public trust. The impeachment was criticized by constitutional legal scholars and Democrats.
January 31, 2024: House Committee Approves Impeachment Articles
On January 31, 2024, Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee approved the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, referring them to the full House.
February 6, 2024: House Initially Votes Against Impeachment
On February 6, 2024, the House voted against impeaching Mayorkas, with the vote being 214–216.
February 13, 2024: House Votes to Impeach Mayorkas
On February 13, 2024, the House voted to impeach Mayorkas on a party-line vote of 214–213; making him the first federal official to be impeached based solely on policy disagreements, and the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in 150 years.
April 17, 2024: Senate Dismisses Impeachment Charges
On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Senate voted that the impeachment charges against Mayorkas were unconstitutional and moot and adjourned the trial.
June 2024: Continued High Number of Encounters with Removable Noncitizens
By June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported about 10 million nationwide encounters with removable noncitizens across the country since January 2021.
July 25, 2024: House Passes Another Resolution Condemning Border Handling
On July 25, 2024, the House of Representatives passed another resolution condemning the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the U.S. southern border by a vote of 220–196.
2024: Impeachment by the House of Representatives
In 2024, Mayorkas was impeached by the House of Representatives for dereliction of duty, but the Senate voted to dismiss the charges on April 17.
2025: End of term as Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2025, Mayorkas's term as the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security came to an end.
