For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced publicly today that he is departing the Department of Homeland Security, effective October 28. On behalf of the entire Department, I thank and salute Ali for his great leadership.
Ali has been my partner at the helm of this Department for the last 34 months. From the beginning, Ali has been a source of encouragement, strength, and optimism. Routinely, Ali’s positive attitude has helped pick me up and given me the strength to carry on. In the face of the extraordinarily difficult issues we face, Ali has been our happy warrior.
Over the last 34 months, Ali has spearheaded much of our Unity of Effort campaign and employee engagement initiatives, and has taken a leading role on issues ranging from immigration to cybersecurity. His legacy as Deputy Secretary will be the number of things we did to improve how this Department functions, and the significant increase in employee satisfaction we saw this year as a result. We are all grateful for Ali’s many contributions.
Finally, Ali is also a true patriot, who believes in service to the Nation as a calling. From his start in 1989 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, to his time as Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and in his current role as Deputy Secretary, Ali has been a terrific public servant.
I wish Ali, his wife, Tanya and their family all the best in this next chapter.
Under Secretary for Management Russ Deyo will serve as Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security beginning October 29. Russ has over 30 years of management experience in both the government and private sector. I have the utmost confidence in his leadership and commitment.
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