US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who helped eliminate visas for Romanians, maintains a special connection with Romania, his mother’s country of origin.
Alejandro Mayorkas. Photo: Influence Watch
Raised in a family where the Romanian language was spoken daily by his mother, Janine, Mayorkas expressed his gratitude towards his cultural heritage and special connection with our country, Mayorkas said in an interview for the “Face the Nation” show on at CBS News, according to Antena 3.
The Romanian roots of Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro Mayorkas was born on November 24, 1959, in Havana, Cuba, into a family of refugees. His mother, Janine, was a Romanian Jewess who fled Romania from Nazi persecution during World War II. His family initially found refuge in Cuba, and later emigrated to the United States.
The family’s story of survival had a profound impact on Mayorkas’ life, influencing his career and commitment to promoting freedom and democracy. “My mother and her family fled Romania because of the Nazi regime, and this taught me to deeply appreciate the freedom and democracy we experience today“, Mayorkas said, according to the cited source.
A personal connection with Romania
A very special moment for Mayorkas was when Andrei Muraru, Romania’s ambassador to the US, and a former foreign minister presented him with a copy of his grandfather’s birth certificate.
“I received from Andrei and from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania the most beautiful gift that I have received in the 22 years of administration. A copy of my grandfather’s birth certificate from the city where he was born. I framed it and gave it to my younger brother who had a special relationship with our grandfather“, said Mayorkas.
The “I love you” moment in his speech
On December 1, during an official meeting, Mayorkas humorously recounted a peculiar situation. The Foreign Minister of Romania asked him if he knew how to speak Romanian, considering that he grew up in a house where his mother spoke the mother tongue with her parents.
“It was a very important meeting in which we discussed for the first time in person the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program. The minister asked me if I grew up in a house where Romanian was spoken. And, indeed, my mother spoke in Romanian with her parents. Then he asked me if I could speak Romanian. I felt like I didn’t know him well enough to share the only words I learned as a child. But I tell them now: “I love you”Mayorkas said.
A distinguished career in security and immigration
Mayorkas is known for his important contributions to United States immigration policy. He held key positions, including Director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration.
Since 2021, as DHS Secretary, he has promoted policies that encourage international mobility, protect immigrant rights, and national security. The elimination of visas for Romanians represents a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Romania, being also a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
