The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on approved three nominees to help lead the Department of Homeland Security, sending the nominations for consideration by the full Senate.
The nomination of John Tien, a retire Army officer and the head of Citigroup’s [C] retail services, was approved 10 to 3 with Republican Sens. James Lankford (Okla.), Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Rick Scott (Fla.) opposed.
At least several Republicans on the committee, including ranking member Rob Portman (Ohio), were concerned about Tien’s confirmation hearing testimony in May on the surge in migrants at the U.S. southwest border. Portman, who voted in favor of the nomination, said prior to the vote he had considered not voting in favor of Tien because in response to questions from Hawley in May he didn’t “acknowledge the seriousness of the influx” of migrants at the border and also because he didn’t directly answer whether it is a criminal act to enter the U.S. illegally.
Tien sent a letter to Portman on Tuesday clarifying his position, saying “laws that govern entry into our country should be enforced,” adding that entry into the country “through unauthorized means” is illegal.
On a 9 to 4 vote the committee also sent the nomination of Robert Silvers to be under secretary for strategy, policy and plans. Republicans opposed were Ron Johnson (Wisc.), Hawley, Lankford and Scott.
Silvers is a partner at the law firm Paul Hastings LLP and during the Obama administration served as a deputy chief of staff at DHS and later oversaw cyber policy at the department.
The committee also voted 8 to 5 in favor of the nomination Jonathan Meyer to be general counsel. Republicans opposed were Mitt Romney (Utah), Johnson, Lankford, Scott and Hawley.
Meyer is a partner at the law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and previously served as deputy general counsel and senior counselor at DHS. He was also counsel to then Sen. Joe Biden on the Judiciary Committee.