Homeland Security Department officials who served during the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations say President Trump’s pick to temporarily oversee the agency, Kevin McAleenan, is the best possible fit for the job.
Citing McAleenan’s unique background as a career law enforcement official and lawyer who is not prone to make rash decisions, five DHS officials who served in top positions from the early 2000s to 2017 described his demeanor as a good counter to that of Trump, known for Twitter outbursts and knee-jerk reactions.
David Lapan, DHS press secretary at the start of the Trump administration, described McAleenan as a “consummate professional” who is “even-keeled,” “measured,” and “smart.”
“His demeanor is much more indicative of his background as a lawyer,” Lapan told the Washington Examiner. “He’s the one that’s not hyperbolic about things.”
McAleenan earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and practiced in California until 2001. He applied to join the FBI after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but was recruited as director of a new office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Antiterrorism. He worked his way up through CBP during the Obama administration, spent two years in the private sector, and returned to government shortly before being nominated to his post atop CBP in 2017.
Thomas Winkowski, a former acting CBP commissioner and acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director who served in the George W. Bush and Obama years, said that McAleenan has strong credibility with Congress because he has already been confirmed and has a sound reputation.
“I think he’s very capable from the standpoint of maneuvering through difficult problems and difficult issues,” Winkowski said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the issues that face the new acting secretary are daunting, but I think he certainly is the right choice to begin the process to bring some fresh eyes to the department and looking at these problems.”
David Danelo served as executive director of policy and planning for CBP during President Barack Obama’s tenure and worked alongside McAleenan. Danelo described McAleenan as the “most practical security professional that has ever led DHS in terms of his level of experience” in law, trade, and security operations. Danelo said the incoming DHS leader has the knowledge to focus on counterterrorism issues “more effectively” than any previous secretary. Danelo said McAleenan also understands DHS does not create immigration laws, it carries them out.
One former senior ICE official disagreed with the overwhelming support for McAleenan.
Julian “Jace” Calderas said McAleenan “can do the work” but criticized him for a lack of law enforcement experience as an officer. “Commissioner McAleenan has never strapped on a gun and walked the line. Tom Homan has done it for 34 years,” Calderas said.
“DHS needs a uniter who the men and women of DHS will respect and follow immediately,” he continued. “They can not [sic] afford the time it would take to train up a new leader on the critical issues facing DHS right now. And Tom will not shy away from media scrutiny or personal attacks. He knows what needs to be done, and has the fortitude to do it. That is what the country needs. An experienced leader who is a dyed in the wool patriot. He speaks truth to power and he not only has the ear of the President, he has his respect.”
Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan worked directly with McAleenan during the 2014 unaccompanied minor surge at the southern border. He said McAleenan has a “great” relationship with Mexico and believes he might be able to get Mexico to do more to help Central American migrants trying to pass through the country for the U.S.
Trump and McAleenan have already disagreed on the issue. Last week, Trump announced plans to cut off more than $100 million in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. McAleenan was against the idea.
Winkowski said he expects the DHS head to want to continue building the U.S.-Mexico-Central America coalition and spend time meeting with leaders in the region, including a formal summit at the White House. The approach is a longer-term solution that will not necessarily bring the instant results Trump seeks.
Lapan warned one area of concern is McAleenan being only well versed in customs and border operations, while a DHS secretary must oversee cybersecurity, disaster response, federal protection, citizenship and visa applications, the Secret Service, and Coast Guard. However, he said being that Trump’s focus is border security, promoting a border expert to the top of the department makes sense.
As acting secretary, the number of employees who report to McAleenan would essentially quadruple from 60,000 to 240,000.
[Opinion: Trump circumvents lawmakers with yet another interim appointment]
