Senate confirms Alejandro Mayorkas as Homeland Security secretary

Cuban-born Jew is the son of a Holocaust survivor; some Republicans fought his nomination

By JTA 3 February 2021, 5:37 am

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Alejandro Mayorkas testifies at his Senate confirmation hearing to be secretary of Homeland Security, .Jan. 19, 2021. (Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images via JTA)

WASHINGTON — The US Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban-born son of a Holocaust survivor, as Homeland Security secretary on Tuesday.

National Jewish groups had sought the confirmation of Mayorkas, who had served under President Barack Obama as deputy Homeland Security secretary and was known to the groups.

The nomination had been subject to partisan tussling and the 56-43 vote was closer than for other Cabinet picks of President Joe Biden.

Jewish groups had pressed for a fast confirmation, citing the pressing need to counter right-wing extremism, particularly in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump marauders who sought to prevent Biden from assuming the presidency.

Republicans opposed Mayorkas’s pledge to reverse some of former President Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies, although the nominee’s views stated during his confirmation hearings comported with those of Biden. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley placed a hold on the Mayorkas nomination.

Mayorkas is one of a number of Jewish Cabinet secretaries, including Antony Blinken in the State Department, Janet Yellen in Treasury and Avril Haines as director of national intelligence.