Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today met virtually with President-elect Biden’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas.
“The United States faces an array of national security threats, from cybersecurity breaches to domestic terrorism. At the same time, DHS is tasked with overseeing our outdated and broken immigration system. I was glad to have the chance to discuss national security issues and how to create an immigration system that works for our families and communities with Mr. Mayorkas, and I plan to continue reviewing his record in the coming days.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto has been an advocate for immigrant communities in Nevada during her time in the Senate. In December, Senator Cortez Masto introduced her landmark immigration bill, the Fairness for Immigrant Families Act, aimed at updating important parts of our immigration system. She has introduced legislation to offer alternatives to detention for asylum seekers, migrant children and families, and other vulnerable groups. She led a bipartisan group of colleagues to ensure that mixed-status families could benefit from federal coronavirus relief funds. She has visited detention centers in Nevada and at the U.S.-Mexico border as well as advocated for humane treatment for detainees. She has also urged DHS officials to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling protecting DACA recipients.
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