Mayorkas experience key in restoring DACA and expanding TPS

Washington, D.C. – Today, CASA commended the President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If confirmed, Mayorkas would represent the first Latino Secretary and would bring with him a wealth of immigration experience, including tenure as the previous U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) director and Deputy Secretary of DHS.

In these roles, Mayorkas was instrumental in standing up and implementing the wildly successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), expanding work permits for H-1B spouses, growing Optional Practical Training for international students and businesses, and strengthening visas for survivors of crime and trafficking. Most recently in his role at WilmerHale, Mayorkas’ firm provided pro-bono legal assistance to local jurisdictions in Maryland to defend pro-immigrant policies.

Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA, stated: “The nomination of Mayorkas represents a bold and inspired pick on behalf of the incoming administration. President-elect Joe Biden will need a qualified competent Secretary to undo a bevy of anti-immigrant and xenophobic immigration regulations, guidance, and policies. We call on Mayorkas to exercise immediate leadership on the restoration of DACA and the aggressive use of Temporary Protected Status to protect a combined 3.2 million undocumented immigrants with long-term ties. CASA emphatically supports this nomination and we urge the Senate to swiftly schedule a vote and confirm Mayorkas at the beginning of the next Congress.”

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