Meet Alejandro Mayorkas: The Seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Background and Early Life
Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas was born on November 24, 1959, in Havana, Cuba. He fled to the United States with his family as a political refugee in the early 1960s. Mayorkas grew up in California and earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Political Career
Mayorkas served as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security during the Obama administration from 2013 to 2016. He was appointed as the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security in January 2021 and confirmed by the Senate in February 2021.
Secretary of Homeland Security
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas is responsible for leading the department that oversees border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness. He has prioritized reforms to the immigration system, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and has also taken steps to improve border security and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Significance of Mayorkas' Appointment
Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. His appointment has been hailed by many as a historic step forward in representation and diversity in the U.S. government.
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