Chairman Carper Statement on Senate Confirmation of Leon Rodriguez to be Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) released a statement following the Senate’s 52 to 43 vote to confirm Leon Rodriguez to be Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.

“Having strong leadership at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is important at any time, but it is particularly vital at this moment, when our nation continues to face major challenges from our broken immigration system,” said Chairman Carper. “That’s why I am pleased my Senate colleagues have done their part to confirm Leon Rodriguez as the agency’s Director. Mr. Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice. His distinguished career, intellect, dedication, and professionalism will serve him well in this new role.

“Our dated immigration rules do not meet the current needs of the country or the realities of the estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the shadows. Given the challenges we are currently facing along our southern border, with unprecedented numbers of unaccompanied children arriving from Central America every day, and the lack of comprehensive immigration reform, this role will be no easy task. We need able leaders, like Mr. Rodriguez, to meet the agency’s critical mission and to continue to lay the groundwork for a long-term solution to address our nation’s outdated immigration system. I appreciate his willingness to accept this challenging role and I am confident that he will continue to be an asset to the Administration and our nation as part of the senior leadership team of this critical agency.”