Mayorkas becomes the first U.S. Senate confirmation while being investigated for wrongdoing by the inspector general on allegations of overruling career offcers of the USCIS where he was chief, to allow visa requests from well connected democrats.
By H. Nelson Goodson
December 20, 2013
Washington, D.C. On Friday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas, former chief of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on a vote of 54-41 to become the next deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Mayorkas is under investigation of wrongdoing by the inspector general for overruling USCIS career officials and allowing visa requests from well connected democrats. The inspector general quit in amidst of the probe.
It's the first time in history that the Senate has confirmed a nominee while he has a pending investigation. The Democrats changed the rules of a filibuster by making it just a majority vote to gain approval for Mayorkas. The U.S. Senate is controlled by Democrats and President Barack H. Obama nominated Mayorkas as deputy director of DHS.
Also, President Obama nominated Leon Rodriguez to become chief of USCIS and replace outgoing Mayorkas. Rodriguez is the current Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services. From January 2010 until September 2011, Leon was the Chief of Staff and Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
