President Obama has nominated the director of Citizenship and Immigration Services to serve as deputy secretary of DHS.
Alejandro Mayorkas was a partner at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP from 2001 to 2009, and served as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California from 1998 – 2001.
The chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Tom Carper, D-Del., who is to hold a hearing on the nomination, praised the choice.
"Former Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute left big shoes to fill but I believe Mr. Mayorkas’ depth of experience, and particularly his current role as [USCIS director], has prepared him well to serve with Secretary Napolitano and help lead the department."