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Kevin McAleenan

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Kevin McAleenan
Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Assuming office
April 10, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyClaire Grady (acting)
SucceedingKirstjen Nielsen
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 20, 2018
Acting: January 20, 2017 – March 20, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyRobert E. Perez
Randolph Alles (acting)
Ron Vitiello
Preceded byGil Kerlikowske
Succeeded byRobert E. Perez
Deputy Commissioner of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
In office
March 18, 2015 – January 20, 2017
Acting: November 2, 2014 - March 18, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Succeeded byRandolph Alles (acting)
Personal details
Born (1971-09-05) September 5, 1971 (age 52)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
EducationAmherst College (BA)
University of Chicago (JD)
AwardsService to America Award (2005)
Presidential Rank Award (2015)

Kevin K. McAleenan (born September 5, 1971[1]) is an American attorney and government official. He is the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.[2]

On Twitter, President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint McAleenan Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, following the resignation of Kirstjen Nielsen on April 7, 2019,[3] although legally under 6 U.S.C. §113(g) the role falls to Under Secretary Claire Grady.[4] Following the announcement of her resignation, Nielsen further indicated that she would be staying on until April 10, "to assist with an orderly transition".[5]

Early life

Kevin McAleenan was born in 1971 to a mother of Finnish descent and a father of Irish descent.[6] He received an undergraduate degree from Amherst College.[7] He then received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and practiced law in the state of California.[7]

Past work experience

McAleenan practiced law in the private sector from 1998 until 2001, when terrorist attacks that September motivated him to apply to work for the FBI. He was recruited to help start up the new CBP Office of Antiterrorism, eventually becoming its executive director.[1]

In 2006, he became CBP's area director of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). During his time as the port director of LAX, he was responsible for the security operations for that airport as well as 17 other airport facilities.[7] In 2011 McAleenan became the acting assistant commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations.[7] In this position he was in charge of airport operations and was responsible for securing the US border while ensuring lawful trade and travel at 329 ports of entry in the United States of America, as well as 70 international locations in more than 40 countries.[7]

After two years in private consulting, McAleenan returned to CBP in 2010, leading field operations until being appointed deputy commissioner in 2014.[citation needed]

McAleenan served as deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection from 2014 to 2017. Prior to being appointed Deputy Commissioner of CBP, he was the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations.[8] McAleenan has also served as the Area Port Director of Los Angeles International Airport.[9]

Awards

In 2015, McAleenan was awarded the Presidential Rank Award, the highest civil service award in the United States.[10] In 2005, McAleenan received the Service to America Medal, Call to Service Award for his leadership and help in developing and implementing a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy for border security after September 11, 2001.[10]

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Nomination

McAleenan served as acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection from January 2017 to March 20, 2018.[11]

President Donald Trump nominated McAleenan to assume the position of commissioner in a permanent capacity in May 2017.[12][13] McAleenan's previous nomination was supported by officials from both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, a number of whom signed a letter to Congress expressing "enthusiastic support" for the "supremely qualified" McAleenan.[14] President Trump officially submitted the nomination to the Senate on May 22.[15] The U.S. Senate confirmed McAleenan's nomination on March 19, 2018, by a vote of 77–19.[16] He was sworn in on March 20, 2018.[11][17]

Border Patrol

In August 2018, McAleenan was interviewed by The New York Times, where he stated that he is aware that it is illegal to detain families longer than 90 days.[6] Later in the interview McAleenan went on to say that he feels that President Trump's executive order was an "important recalibration". He also states that the "well intended efforts are not going to succeed if they lose public interest".[6] McAleenan is a supporter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating that they do "critical work". In the rest of the piece he goes on to state his belief on the topic of child separation.[6]

In September 2018, McAleenan sat down with the USA Today editorial board, where he stated that he plans on spending more time "analyzing ways to modernize border patrol facilities".[10] At the time of the interview he planned on traveling to the southwest portion of United States where most of the migrant children were being held.

References

  1. ^ a b Matt Bewig (January 14, 2018). "Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Who Is Kevin McAleenan?". AllGov.
  2. ^ Miles, Frank (April 7, 2019). "Kevin McAleenan, new acting DHS boss, has long record in border security". Fox News. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Haberman, Maggie; Weiland, Noah (April 7, 2019). "Kirstjen Nielsen Out as Trump's Homeland Security Secretary". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  4. ^ David Brennan (April 8, 2019). "Will Donald Trump replace Claire Grady?". Newsweek.
  5. ^ Katherine Faulders (April 8, 2019). "Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigns". ABC News.
  6. ^ a b c d Audie Cornish. "Kevin McAleenan Says the Border Patrol Doesn't Make the Laws". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Beavers, Olivia (March 30, 2017). "Trump nominates officials for VA, border control". The Hill. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  9. ^ Kulisch, Eric (April 3, 2017). "Trump picks McAleenan as permanent CBP commissioner". American Shipper. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Alan Gomez (September 17, 2018). "CBP chief to inspect Border Patrol facilities housing minors". USA Today. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Fortin, Jacey (April 7, 2019). "Kevin McAleenan, Top U.S. Border Enforcement Officer, Is Named Acting Head of Homeland Security". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  12. ^ Knaub, Kelly (March 31, 2017). "Trump To Officially Nominate McAleenan For Customs Head". Law360. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  13. ^ Trump, Donald J. (April 7, 2019). "....I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for @DHSgov. I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!". @realdonaldtrump. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Levine, Mike (April 7, 2017). "Trump's pick to lead border security wins support from Bush- and Obama-era officials". ABC News. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  15. ^ Bradley, Brian (May 24, 2017). "Trump Sends McAleenan CBP Nomination to Senate". International Trade Today. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  16. ^ Dinan, Stephen (March 19, 2018). "Senate approves Trump's border chief". The Washington Times. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  17. ^ Kirstjen Nielsen [@SecNielsen] (March 20, 2018). "Excited and proud to swear in @CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan today. Thank you @SenateMajLdr @senorrinhatch & @RonWyden for your support of his nomination (unanimous out comm and overwhelming on the floor). Remarkably qualified and is already on the job! Great day for DHS" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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Political offices
Preceded by Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2017–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Acting
2019–present
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