Alejandro Mayorkas is the 7th United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving since 2021. A Democrat, he previously served as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009-2013) and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2016).
Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas was born on November 24, 1959, in Havana, Cuba.
When Alejandro Mayorkas was one year old, his family fled Cuba in 1960 as refugees following the Cuban Revolution.
Alejandro Mayorkas graduated with distinction from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1981, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Alejandro Mayorkas received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1985, where he was an editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review.
Alejandro Mayorkas' career as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California began in 1989.
From 1996 to 1998, Alejandro Mayorkas held the position of Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section, where he was responsible for overseeing the training and trial work of all new Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division.
President Bill Clinton appointed Alejandro Mayorkas as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California on December 21, 1998, making him the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country.
Alejandro Mayorkas received multiple awards from federal law enforcement agencies, including recognition from FBI Director Louis Freeh, for his successful prosecution of Operation PolarCap in 1998.
During late 2000, Alejandro Mayorkas was among the California officials who were involved in efforts to secure executive clemency for Carlos Vignali Jr., a convicted drug trafficker.
On his last day in office, January 2001, President Clinton commuted the sentence of drug trafficker Carlos Vignali Jr., a decision that sparked controversy and involved the participation of Mayorkas and other California officials seeking clemency.
In September 2001, Alejandro Mayorkas joined the law firm O'Melveny & Myers as a litigation partner.
Following Barack Obama's election victory in November 2008, Alejandro Mayorkas was selected to play a key role in the presidential transition, leading the team responsible for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division.
The National Law Journal recognized Alejandro Mayorkas as one of the "50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America" in 2008.
Before President Obama took office in January 2009, Alejandro Mayorkas led the presidential transition team responsible for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division.
On May 20, 2009, the Senate received the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas for the position of director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by voice vote on August 7, 2009.
Alejandro Mayorkas was appointed as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2009.
As USCIS director, Alejandro Mayorkas spearheaded the development of a crime victims unit. This initiative aimed to assist victims of crime and resulted in the agency's ability to grant the maximum number of visas allowed by law to those affected.
Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, Alejandro Mayorkas spearheaded U.S. government efforts to rescue orphaned children.
In June 2013, President Obama nominated Alejandro Mayorkas for the position of deputy secretary of Homeland Security.
On December 20, 2013, following a party-line Senate vote, Alejandro Mayorkas was confirmed as the deputy secretary of Homeland Security. He had been nominated by President Obama in June 2013.
As deputy secretary, Mayorkas played a key role in leading the Department of Homeland Security's response to the 2013–14 Ebola virus epidemic.
Alejandro Mayorkas served as the 6th Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2016.
In 2013, the Department of Homeland Security inspector general launched an investigation into Mayorkas's oversight of the EB-5 investor visa program. The investigation focused on allegations of special treatment given to politically connected businesses.
In May 2015, Mayorkas testified before the House Homeland Security Committee regarding the DHS inspector general's investigation into his role in expediting reviews for foreign investor visa applicants. While expressing regret over the impression of favoritism, he defended his actions, stating that his intention was to ensure the applications were handled lawfully.
In 2015, Mayorkas played a crucial role in shaping cybersecurity strategies and leading negotiations with Israel and China on cybersecurity issues. His efforts contributed to a significant agreement with China that temporarily reduced cyberattacks targeting American companies for intellectual property theft.
In 2015, a Department of Homeland Security inspector general (DHS IG) report criticized Mayorkas's oversight of the EB-5 investor visa program. The report, culminating from an investigation that began in 2013, alleged that politically connected businesses received special treatment, raising concerns about favoritism and special access.
Alejandro Mayorkas joined the Washington office of the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in October 2016.
In 2016, Mayorkas joined the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr as a partner in their Washington, D.C., office.
President-elect Joe Biden announced his nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas for the position of secretary of homeland security on November 23, 2020.
Alejandro Mayorkas was confirmed as the secretary of homeland security by the Senate on February 2, 2021, following a 56–43 vote.
June 2021 saw a significant surge in arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border under Mayorkas's leadership, with the monthly number of intercepted migrants reaching a decade high of 188,800.
In September 2021, a controversial photo emerged depicting Border Patrol agents on horseback using their reins to control horses while interacting with Haitian migrants. The image sparked outrage, with accusations of agents "whipping" migrants. Initially defending the agents, Mayorkas later condemned their actions and initiated an investigation.
On October 19, 2021, Mayorkas tested positive for COVID-19 during pre-travel protocols. Experiencing mild symptoms, he canceled his trip to Bogotá, Colombia, and rescheduled a Senate hearing.
In 2021, Alejandro Mayorkas assumed the role of the 7th United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
During his testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on April 27, 2022, Mayorkas confirmed the Biden administration's plan to establish a Disinformation Working Group within the DHS. The initiative, intended to counter disinformation, was met with criticism and was later "paused."
In October 2022, emails surfaced revealing that Mayorkas had received information prior to his press conference that contradicted the narrative of Border Patrol agents "whipping" Haitian migrants. The release of these emails drew condemnation from Republicans, with some raising the possibility of impeachment.
On October 31, 2023, Mayorkas testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, revealing that over 600,000 individuals had illegally entered the United States without being apprehended during the 2023 fiscal year.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to impeach Mayorkas on November 9, 2023, alleging a dereliction of duty in maintaining control of the Southern border. The motion failed on November 13, with the House voting to defer it to the Homeland Security Committee.
On January 28, 2024, House Republicans introduced two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. They alleged a "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and a breach of public trust, focusing on his handling of immigration policy. This move was met with criticism from constitutional scholars and Democrats who argued that it was politically motivated and lacked evidence of impeachable offenses.
On January 31, 2024, the House Homeland Security Committee voted along party lines to advance articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas to the full House of Representatives.
The United States House of Representatives held an initial vote on February 6, 2024, regarding the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas. The vote failed to reach the required majority, with a final count of 214-216, indicating a significant division primarily along party lines.
On February 13, 2024, driven by dissatisfaction with immigration and border issues, the United States House of Representatives voted 214–213 to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas.
The United States Senate, on April 17, 2024, voted in favor of a point of order that declared the impeachment charges against Alejandro Mayorkas as unconstitutional and moot. This decision effectively ended the impeachment trial, with a vote of 51-48-1 on Article I and 51-49 on Article II, highlighting a significant legal victory for Mayorkas. The trial was subsequently adjourned with a 51-49 vote.