2 FEBRUARY 2021

Immigration Hub: Alejandro Mayorkas’ Confirmation as DHS Secretary Historic Moment for Nation, Latinos and Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Below is a statement from Sergio Gonzales, Interim Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, on the Senate’s confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

“Confirming Alejandro Mayorkas as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is a crucial step in reforming DHS and advancing the Biden-Harris administration’s initiative to create a fair and humane immigration system. Not only does Mayorkas have the integrity and humility to guide his decision-making, he has the professional and personal experience required to lead DHS during these trying times. His central role in creating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) demonstrates the much needed expertise and values he will bring with him to the job. Mayorkas’s confirmation is also a historic moment for our country, as he will become the first Latino and immigrant to lead the department. Those experiences give him crucial insight and empathy for our nation's immigrants who have been devastated by a broken system for decades.

“After four long years of cruelty-first immigration policy under Donald Trump, Americans saw first-hand the atrocities committed in our immigration system. They want change, and it’s incumbent upon this administration to transform our system into one that works for everyone. With Mayorkas at the helm, DHS and the Biden administration must act immediately to undo Stephen Miller’s mass enforcement apparatus and prioritize legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants across the country, including essential workers, immigrant youth and individuals with Temporary Protected Status.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.