The Biden government on Friday sacked most members of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) independent advisory board, including those nominated by Democrats and Republicans.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden charges Harris at the border; press conference today Arizona city declares ‘state of emergency’ due to border crisis sent a letter to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) announcing that “in the service of an orderly transition to a new model for HSAC, I will terminate the term of current HSAC members from March 26, 2021.”
The letter, which was first obtained by Politico, added that the council, made up of former intelligence and security officials and other experts who advise the secretary on a number of political issues, will be formed again “in the coming weeks, once the new model has been developed.”
Mayorkas thanked the board members for their services, adding: “I am considering how HSAC can bring the greatest value to the Department and how the experience, judgment and advice of its members can be used more effectively to promote the mission. of the Department ”.
“I look forward to working closely with HSAC and counting on its members to help guide the Department through a period of change,” he continued.
The letter effectively dismissed most members, including former National Security Agency director Keith Alexander, former DHS interim secretary Ken Cuccinelli and former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tom Homan.
Mayorkas, however, specified that William Bratton, the former New York City police commissioner, and Karen Tandy, former administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, will remain in their respective roles as president and vice president.
Former FBI and CIA director William Webster will also remain in his role as president emeritus.
Heritage Foundation foreign policy expert James Carafano, who was appointed to the board of DHS secretary Michael Chertoff, told Politico that he was “very disappointed” with Friday’s decision.
“I thought this was the most talented piece of advice they ever had in terms of the broad experience they brought to the department,” he said. “I think it’s a loss for the department.”
The changes come at a time when President Biden intends to move away from the immigration policies of the former President Trump
Donald Trump’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Biden changes in obstruction Republican party tries to squeeze Biden, Democrats on the border Elaine Luria endorses McAuliffe for governor in Virginia’s Democratic primaries MORE, while facing a rapid increase in migrants, especially unaccompanied minors, on the southern border.
Biden has faced scrutiny by members of both parties in the use of detention centers for migrant children by his administration, especially after condemning Trump for his treatment of migrants at the border.
A CNN report published on Friday, found that although Biden pledged to end several Trump-era immigration policies, he maintained a pandemic health order that was used to expel more than half of migrants on the southern border in recent weeks.