Alejandro Mayorkas is a respected American lawyer and politician who is the seventh and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
Mayorkas was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security by President Joe Biden on February 2, 2021. He is the first Latino and immigrant to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
He served as the Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from 2009 to 2013 during the Obama administration. And also served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2013 to 2016.
Physical Stats
| Full Name: | Alejandro Nicolas Mayorkas |
| Age: | 63 Years |
| Height: | 5 Feet 8 Inches |
| Profession: | American Lawyer and Politician |
| Current Position | United States Secretary of Homeland Security |
| Born: | 24 November 1959, Havana, Cuba |
| Party: | Democratic Party |
| Education | Beverly Hills High School University of California, Berkeley (BA) Loyola Marymount University (JD) |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Spouse: | Tanya Mayorkas (m. 2014) |
| Children: | 2, Giselle Mayorkas and Amelia Mayorkas |
| Religion: | Jewish |
| Parents: | Charles R. Nicky Mayorkas and Anita Mayorkas (Gabor) |
| Nationality: | American |
Early Life
Alejandro Nicolas Mayorkas was born on 24 November 1959 in Havana, Cuba to a Jewish family.
His father, Charles R. Nicky Mayorkas was the owner of a steel wool factory on the outskirts of Havana. and mother Anita (Gabor), a Romanian Jew whose family had fled the Holocaust to Cuba before moving to the United States after the Cuban Revolution in the 1940s.
When Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1960, Mayorkas’s family left the country. After that he stayed in Miami, Florida for a few days and thenSettled in Los Angeles, California.
Alejandro and his sister grew up in Beverly Hills, California. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1977.
Alejandro earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981, while also majoring in political economy. He received the Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1985.
Career
Alejandro Mayorkas began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California (1986–1993).
Mayorkas was appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in Los Angeles on December 21, 1998, during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. And he became the youngest American Attorney in the country.
Mayorkas then joined the law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP as a partner in 2001. As attorney, he oversaw the prosecution of several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Enron executives for fraud and corruption.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009)
Mayorkas was appointed Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by President Barack Obama on May 7, 2009, and was sworn in on August 7, 2009, following his confirmation by the Senate.
In this role, he oversaw the implementation of the Obama administration’s immigration reforms, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (2013–2016)
President Barack Obama appointed Alejandro Mayorkas as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security on December 20, 2013. He remained working on this post till 2016.
As Deputy Secretary, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Department and worked on several key initiatives, including the Department’s cybersecurity efforts, the Ebola virus epidemic (2013–14) and the Zika virus epidemic (2015–16).
Secretary of Homeland Security (2021–Present)
Alejandro Mayorkas was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to be Secretary of Homeland Security on November 23, 2020.
After his confirmation by the Senate, he was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on 21 February 2021. Since then he has been working on this post till present time.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas oversees the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is responsible for protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, natural disasters, cybersecurity, and other threats.
DHS is the third largest cabinet of the United States, with a wide range of responsibilities, including immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, and border security.
A brief description of Mayorkas’s work as Secretary of Homeland Security:
- Reforming The Immigration System: Mayorkas has worked to create a more humane and efficient immigration system, including ending the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy and expanding access to asylum.
- Border Security: Mayorkas has increased resources for border security and is working to improve coordination between different border enforcement agencies.
- Addressing Climate Change: Mayorkas recognizes the threat climate change poses to national security and is working to develop strategies to reduce these risks.
- Enhancing Cyber Security: Mayorkas is leading efforts to improve the country’s cybersecurity posture and protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.
Net worth
According to Forbes, Alejandro Mayorkas’s net worth is estimated to be $8 million. The main sources of his wealth are a combination of his legal career, his political career and his stock investments.
Mayorkas is currently the Secretary of Homeland Security and his net worth includes,
- Washington DC. A home in the U.S. priced between $500,000 and $1 million.
- Investing between $500,000 and $1 million in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
- Pension from previous job as Secretary of Homeland Security $100,000 to $250,000
Personal life
Alejandro Mayorkas was married to Tanya Mayorkas, a lawyer and businesswoman, in 2014. They have two daughters, Giselle Mayorkas and Amelia Mayorkas.
Tanya Mayorkas graduated from Harvard Law School. And started his career as a lawyer in New York City. After that he also worked in an investment banking firm.
Tanya first met Alejandro in 2013 when he was working in the United States Civil Service.
Tanya has been a strong supporter of Alejandro Mayorkas in his political career. He supported the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be United States Secretary of Homeland Security in 2021. He is also an advisor and strategist for Alejandro Mayorkas.
Tanya Mayorkas is also an active social worker. She is involved with several non-profit organisations include, American Civil Liberties Union, The National Organization for Women and The Human Rights Watch.
Alejandro Mayorkas is very private about his personal life, so there is not much public information about his marriage.
Alejandro Mayorkas Resignation
In an interview with ABC News on August 4, 2023, Mayorkas said that he had no plans to resign as Secretary of Homeland Security. He also said he is “proud” of his work at DHS and is committed to continuing to serve the American people.
But many Republicans, including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are demanding his resignation. He has been accused of failing to secure the southern border and not handling the migrant crisis properly.
His decision to end the public health order is also being criticised. Which allowed border officials to quickly expel migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment
On November 8, 2023, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced an article of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
In the article, he accused Alejandro of failing to secure the US-Mexico border and violating his oath of office.
The impeachment resolution was referred to the House Homeland Security Committee but on November 14, 2023, Democrats blocked the effort to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas with Republican support.
Representatives among eight Republicans joining Democrats in impeachment motion against Alejandro Mayorkas,
- Ken Buck ( (R-CO 4th District))
- Darrell Issa (R-CA 48th District)
- Tom McClintock (R-CA 5th District)
- Patrick McHenry (R-NC 10th District)
- John Duarte (R-CA 13th District)
- Ann Foxx (R-North Carolina’s 5th District)
- Cliff Bentz (R-OR 2nd District)
- Mike Turner (R-Ohio 10th District)
