ACLU Supporter –

Today marks six months since Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas took office at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – signaling he'd break from the racist policies of the past four years.

How much exactly have the secretary's actions matched up with his rhetoric and voters' mandate to dismantle Trump's anti-immigrant policies? To finally bring humanity and fairness to our immigration system? The ACLU has his report card.

Here's a very quick snapshot of Secretary Mayorkas' record in three key areas – which you can dive into more fully here.

1. Ending ICE Abuses: Needs Improvement

   Trump weaponized ICE, brandishing the threat of mass raids and deportations to further a racist agenda. Under Mayorkas' leadership, some policies are changing.

   ICE arrests are down sharply, yet some ICE agents are flouting the administration's directives to continue wrongly threatening people with deportation. Meanwhile, ICE continues to be entangled with local law enforcement through programs like 287(g), which were massively expanded under the Trump administration. Secretary Mayorkas should use his power to fundamentally reform and reorient ICE.

2. Closing ICE Detention Centers: Needs Improvement

   Mayorkas oversees more than 200 ICE detention facilities scattered across the country, including many with documented patterns of inhumane conditions.

   Two ICE detention centers have been closed, but ICE has doubled the average daily population of detention facilities under Secretary Mayorkas' watch. Mayorkas should work to close ICE detention sites and end contracts with private prison operators. As detention sites close, he should also require that ICE prioritize the release of detained people – rather than their transfer and continued detention elsewhere, a galling practice happening as of late.

3. A Fair and Humane Approach to the Border: Needs Improvement

   Until the federal government brings a complete end to the misuse of the "Title 42" public health authority to expel people seeking asylum with no due process, the continuation of this cruel and unlawful policy will overshadow other developments. We challenged Trump against these expulsions in the past – alongside our Texas and D.C. affiliates, Texas Civil Rights Project, RAICES, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam – and today, this same coalition group filed notice that we will be headed back to court against the Biden administration to seek an end to the policy once more.

   In addition, more must be done to ensure families severely traumatized by Trump's family separation policy are made fully whole.

ACLU Supporter, there may be some notable higher marks when it comes to Mayorkas' record so far, but the fact is, the secretary's incremental approach is not enough.

It's not enough to reverse the drastic restrictions of the Trump administration – and it's not enough to end the ongoing trauma that immigration enforcement still causes to this day.

That's why it's critical for us all to pay attention and hold Mayorkas accountable: The ACLU will not back down from demanding more, and we know you're with us.

So please, get informed today on the issues surrounding Mayorkas' work so far – and be ready to take action soon. We'll be back with a critical follow-up later this week.

Onward,

Naureen Shah
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Senior Advocacy and Policy Counsel on Immigrants' Rights, ACLU