June 10, 2021– The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, provided the Keynote address today at the multi-day Annual Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has led a distinguished 30-year career in law enforcement and as an attorney. Secretary Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant confirmed to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security and began his career as a federal prosecutor who went on to be appointed the youngest United States Attorney in the nation.  While emphasizing that public safety will continue to be a priority, the Biden administration is committed to making the immigration system more just and fairer than the previous administration. For example, the Department has issued new guidance to its attorneys allowing them to have more discretion in allowing stipulations that are true rather than generally resisting every effort on behalf of a noncitizen in Immigration Court. In addition, while the immigration statutes are phrased in the terms of “illegal aliens”, the common language within the government has now been changed to be more respectful by making reference to “noncitizens.” There will be other changes and he also announced that there will be a new pilot program adding specialty attorneys to resolve appropriate cases faster and perhaps in a more informal manner. Secretary Mayorkas address can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZnmqqOVjBU&t=3s