Alejandro Mayorkas
Bio | Mayorkas is the Secretary of Homeland Security under the Biden Administration. He has previously served as Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security under the Obama Administration and U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California under the Clinton Administration. Mayorkas was born in Cuba, raised in Los Angeles, and obtained his B.A. from University of California, Berkeley as well as a law degree from Loyola Law School. |
Status and Position | Current Secretary of Homeland Security of White House Staff |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, White House Staff |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
Campaign Financing | No campaign funding information is known. |
Voting Rights | No clear stance on issue. |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Socialized Healthcare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Private Healthcare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| LGBT Rights | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Taxes | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Abortion | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Gun Control | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Government Interference | Nuance | As an attorney, Mayorkas has mostly focused on prosecuting white-collar crimes like money laundering and scams, which he has sought to address through increased cybersecurity and regulation of white-collar industries. Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-me-30731-story.html |
| Planned Parenthood | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Welfare | For | Mayorkas has been involved in the implementation of several welfare measures aimed towards immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-24-la-me-mayorkas-20100524-story.html, https://www.chirla.org/news-category/news-alerts/selection-of-alejandro-mayorkas-to-head-dhs-under-biden-administration-is-a-move-for-immigrant-justice/, Mayorkas spearheaded efforts to rescue children from Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, and has received several awards and endorsements as an advocate for immigrant rights. Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-24-la-me-mayorkas-20100524-story.html, https://www.chirla.org/news-category/news-alerts/selection-of-alejandro-mayorkas-to-head-dhs-under-biden-administration-is-a-move-for-immigrant-justice/, https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/12/01/alejandro-mayorkas-dhs/#.YAziAOhKjIU, https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-12-01/how-mayorkas-might-shape-us-immigration-policy-during-biden-administration, https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-12-01/how-mayorkas-might-shape-us-immigration-policy-during-biden-administration |
| Welfare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Death Penalty | Nuance | Mayorkas has not released any statements on his view of the death penalty, however during his law career he has overseen the prosecution of Mexican mafia members for capital punishment. Source: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/alejandro-mayorkas-los-angeles-former-top-federal-prosecutor-nominated-dhs-homeland-security/2468965/ |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Nuance | Mayorkas was involved in the commutation of a family member of the Clintons during his time serving in their cabinet, which he has expressed that he now regrets. Since then in regards to other criminal prosecutions such as that of drug smuggler Carlos Vignali, Mayorkas has advised against the commutation of sentencing for criminal offenses. Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/homeland-security-probe-alejandro-mayorkas-094617, https://www.wsj.com/articles/dhs-officials-accounts-of-drug-dealers-release-differ-1428102332 |
| Military Spending | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| War on Terrorism | For | As Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama Administration, Mayorkas took part in several counterterrorism efforts, which the DHS has listed as "enhanced aviation and border security, new means of accessing social media, enforcing international agreements, strengthening national security vetting protocols, and disseminating counterterrorism intelligence to state, local, and tribal law enforcement." Source: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/10/05/fact-sheet-alejandro-mayorkas-seven-years-public-service-dhs |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Mayorkas has been involved in efforts to strengthen cybersecurity against foreign cyberattacks as well as cargo security and travel security. Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/24/cybersecurity-202-bidens-dhs-pick-adds-cybersecurity-chops-incoming-administration/, https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/alejandro-mayorkas-the-cuban-jewish-attorney-who-may-head-bidens-dhs-648838 Mayorkas led diplomatic efforts to reach agreements with Israel and China to reduce cyberattacks against American companies, and also negotiated with Cuba in regards to cargo security and US-Cuba travel security. Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/24/cybersecurity-202-bidens-dhs-pick-adds-cybersecurity-chops-incoming-administration/, https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/alejandro-mayorkas-the-cuban-jewish-attorney-who-may-head-bidens-dhs-648838 |
| United Nations power | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Nationalism | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Free Markets | Nuance | Mayorkas is not opposed to the free-market economy or the capitalist system, however he has focused his efforts as an attorney on prosecuting white-collar crimes and has advocated for increased cybersecurity to address these crimes. Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-me-30731-story.html Mayorkas was involved in the prosecution of Operation PolarCap, one of the largest money laundering cases in the nation, as well as telemarketing scams and healthcare fraud. He has worked with regulatory agencies to crack down on fraud and scams through increased cybersecurity and law enforcement. Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-me-30731-story.html, |
| Brexit | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Affirmative Action | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Government Spending | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Charter Schools | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Common Core | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Clean Energy | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Religious Freedom | For | Mayorkas supports religious freedom and believes all religions should be welcomed as they reflect the diversity of the American people. Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/fabiola-santiago/article247391460.html Mayorkas issued a statement, saying that “Being an American is not about one’s religion, the color of one’s skin, or the place of one’s birth. Our nation thrives due to its ability to welcome newcomers who share our civic ideals and participate in our democracy.” As the son of a Holocaust survivor, Mayorkas has been active in speaking out against anti-Semitism and upholding freedom of worship. Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/fabiola-santiago/article247391460.html, https://www.rosen.senate.gov/rosen-transcript-following-hearing-nomination-alejandro-mayorkas-lead-dhs |
| Separation of Church and State | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Slavery Reparations | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Border Control | For | Mayorkas supports broad immigration system and border control reform, calling for increased cybersecurity, upholding DACA, and humane treatment of migrants and humanitarian aid to Central America, among other measures. Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2021/01/19/957302583/watch-live-homeland-security-nominee-alejandro-mayorkas-confirmation-hearing Mayorkas supports Biden's objective of ending construction on the border wall, seeing it as ineffective. Instead, he calls for strengthening cybersecurity and opposes the defunding of ICE that many Democrats have proposed. Mayorkas also seeks to uphold DACA, support refugees and asylum seekers, and rebrand the US as a "country of welcome". Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2021/01/19/957302583/watch-live-homeland-security-nominee-alejandro-mayorkas-confirmation-hearing, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y0wSOMmQdw |
| Passenger Profiling | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| DACA | For | Mayorkas was instrumental in the implementation of DACA under the Obama Administration and has committed to strengthening DACA and protecting DREAMERs as Secretary of DHS under the Biden Administration. Source: https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/12/01/alejandro-mayorkas-dhs/#.YAziAOhKjIU, https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-12-01/how-mayorkas-might-shape-us-immigration-policy-during-biden-administration, https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-12-01/how-mayorkas-might-shape-us-immigration-policy-during-biden-administration |
| Sanctuary Cities | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Legalizing Marijuana | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |