The U.S. Senate approved on Tuesday the appointment of Alejandro Mayorkas (born in Cuba) as Secretary of Homeland Security, making him the first Latino and the first immigrant to lead this department, which oversees immigration and border issues.
This approval came with a majority of 57 senators in favor and 43 against, as President Joe Biden seeks to overturn anti-immigration decisions made by his predecessor, Donald Trump, amid calls for reforming border protection policies and addressing the status of millions of undocumented immigrants. Mayorkas, a 61-year-old former attorney, came to the United States as an infant with his immigrant parents and previously held senior positions in the Department of Homeland Security during the administration of former President Barack Obama.
Mayorkas's selection aligns with President Biden's commitments to reform immigration laws. On Tuesday, Biden signed three key executive orders aimed at reversing the previous administration's strict immigration practices.
