23 NOVEMBER 2020

Nominating Alejandro Mayorkas For DHS Secretary Historic Moment, Reflects Urgency of Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below is a statement from Kerri Talbot, Director of Federal Advocacy of the Immigration Hub, in response to reports that President-elect Biden plans to nominate Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

“Alejandro Mayorkas has the integrity, experience and humanity to be an excellent Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Mayorkas’s efforts to help immigrant youth through the creation of the DACA program earned him the trust and respect of immigrant communities. This nomination is a historic moment in our country’s history as Mr. Mayorkas will become the first Latino and immigrant to lead DHS. Mr. Mayorkas is an experienced public servant who understands the immigrant experience and his selection demonstrates that the Biden administration supports the need to govern with compassion and empathy.

“It’s been four long years of abusive immigration policy under Donald Trump. During that time, his administration committed human rights violations and made cruelty central to their immigration approach, ripping families apart and harming DREAMers. The world has for too long looked at America and seen xenophobic and racist vitriol coming from the top immigration officials and even the President, but that will change with a Biden administration and a Secretary Mayorkas. From day one, the new administration should act quickly to immediately halt the abuses of the Trump presidency and act to move beyond the status quo towards a functioning immigration system that works for everyone.”

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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.