Advancing Justice – AAJC Applauds Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Department Homeland Security Secretary

Mayorkas will make history as the first immigrant and Latino in the position.
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For Immediate Release
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. During the Obama Administration, Mayorkas developed and implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

Megan Essaheb, Director of Immigration Advocacy, issues the following statement:

"We applaud President-elect Biden’s pick of Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary. Mr. Mayorkas' appointment is historic in that he will be the first immigrant and Latino in the position. As a former head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy Secretary of DHS, Mr. Mayorkas shepherded the successful rollout and implementation of the DACA program. Mr. Mayorkas has a momentous task ahead of him in dismantling Trump's inhumane immigration policies and reforming the institution in the pursuit of racial justice. To do so, he must go beyond Obama-era policies and reform the agency from top to bottom, centered on the principle that the most vulnerable among us must be treated with humanity, dignity and compassion."

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC has a mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Visit our website at advancingjustice-aajc.org