Senate Confirms Biden DHS Nominee called “Most Radical” Despite Ethics Concerns

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security position, despite significant opposition based around long-standing allegations of ethical lapses during his previous service.

Mayorkas was approved 56-43 for the role. Mayorkas has previously served during the Obama Administration as commissioner of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). During his time there, Mayorkas was the subject of 2015 Inspector General report, alleging he’d used his position to do favors for politically connected individuals seeking approval for certain visa applicants.

Mayorkas’ time at USCIS caused additional concern among immigration security hawks, given his reputation for enforcing a “get to yes” culture which criticized and punished immigration officers who pursued concerns regarding immigration fraud and abuse.

Republican Senators strongly objecting to Mayorkas included Senator Rubio who called Mayorkas one of the “most radical” of Biden’s nominees, citing prior allegations of misconduct, support for immigration amnesty, and supporting normalization with Cuba. Senator Tom Cotton called Mayorkas “unfit”, while Senator Josh Hawley had led efforts to delay Mayorkas’ nomination in committee after Mayorkas declined to commit to spending already appropriated money for the completion of the border wall.

Mayorkas did make some statements in his nomination hearing suggesting he was prepared appease Republican skeptics and buck his own party’s left-wing. Mayorkas told Republican Senator James Lankford that he opposed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an ongoing demand by far-left members of Democrat party. Vice President Kamala Harris has previously said she supported “critically re-examining” ICE starting from scratch, which is suggestive of favoring abolishment. Mayorkas did not go so far as to accept a suggestion that ICE receive additional funding, however.

Six Republican Senators voted to confirm Mayorkas: Sens. Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Dan Sullivan, Shelley Moore-Capito, Lisa Murkowski and Committee Chairman Rob Portman.