WASHINGTON, DC — FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement today after the United States Senate confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on a bipartisan vote:

“Today’s confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas to be the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is good news for the country. As the first Latino and first immigrant to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Mayorkas will bring not only years of experience, but his personal history to one of the most important jobs in the President’s cabinet. We thank members from both sides of the aisle who voted to support confirmation despite the disappointing delay that showed a disregard not just for immigration policy, but for the department’s other critical functions, including emergency response and cyber-security.

“The challenges facing the Department require urgent action as the Biden-Harris Administration begins to undo the damage caused by the previous Administration’s attacks on immigrant communities. It will be absolutely critical for Congress to work with Secretary Mayorkas to restore the harms of a long failed immigration system and build a modern immigration system that treats people fairly, humanely, and benefits America.

“This begins with allowing those people intentionally trapped in horrid, inhumane conditions at the border to restart the asylum process, and passing an immigration reform bill to fix a long failed system centered on a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants who are serving our nation and keeping our communities safe as essential workers.”