Kevin McAleenan

Kevin Kealoha McAleenan is an American attorney who has spent a significant portion of his career in federal law enforcement and homeland security roles. He served as the acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security during the final months of President Donald Trump’s administration, following a tenure as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. After leaving government service, he entered the private sector, taking on executive positions that continue to intersect with national defense and security.

Early life and career

Kevin McAleenan was born on September 5, 1971, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His mother is of Finnish ancestry while his father has Irish roots. He pursued higher education at Amherst College, where he earned an undergraduate degree before attending the University of Chicago Law School to obtain a Juris Doctor. Following law school, McAleenan began practicing law in California, first with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and later with Gunderson Dettmer.

In 1998, he entered private practice, working as an attorney until 2001. The terrorist attacks of September 11 that year prompted him to seek a role within federal investigative services. He was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help establish the new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Antiterrorism, where he served as executive director.

McAleenan’s career with CBP continued to advance through several key assignments. In 2006 he became the area director for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), overseeing security operations at that major hub as well as at 17 additional airport facilities. After a period of private consulting, he returned to CBP in 2010, leading field operations across the agency. The following year, he was appointed assistant commissioner of the Office of Field Operations, placing him in charge of airport operations and responsible for securing U.S. borders while facilitating lawful trade and travel at 329 ports of entry domestically and at 70 international locations in more than forty countries. From 2014 to 2017, McAleenan served as deputy commissioner of CBP.

Cabinet tenure

McAleenan’s rise within the Department of Homeland Security culminated in his appointment as acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in January 2017, a position he held until March 20, 2018. President Donald Trump nominated him for permanent commissionership in May 2017; the nomination was supported by officials from previous administrations, including those from the George W. Bush and Barack Obama periods. The Senate confirmed his appointment on March 19, 2018, with a vote of 77–19, and he was sworn into office the following day.

During his tenure as commissioner, McAleenan became a prominent advocate for the administration’s “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy, which called for the prosecution of parents who crossed the border illegally and the separation of children from their families. He issued a memorandum in April 2018 urging then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to implement the policy, despite concerns that CBP was not prepared for its execution. In an August 2018 interview with The New York Times, he acknowledged awareness of the legal limit on family detention—90 days—and expressed confidence that the policy would not result in indefinite or permanent separation. He also emphasized his support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as performing essential work.

McAleenan publicly discussed plans to modernize border patrol facilities, indicating a focus on improving infrastructure in the southwestern United States where migrant children were being held. On June 11, 2019, he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, stating that the “Zero Tolerance” policy had lasted six weeks; subsequent records from the Department of Health and Human Services indicated that family separations began in February 2018 and continued into March 2019.

In late June 2019, McAleenan criticized media reports concerning conditions for detained migrants at the U.S.–Mexico border. He asserted that children received appropriate meals and showers as soon as possible. However, a July 2, 2019 Office of Inspector General report from DHS found that some detention facilities in the Rio Grande Valley had violated CBP standards by denying children access to showers or hot meals.

Following the resignation of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on April 8, 2019, President Trump designated McAleenan as acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security. He served in this capacity until his resignation on October 11, 2019. The president announced that McAleenan wished to spend more time with family and pursue opportunities in the private sector. Reports indicated that White House officials attempted to persuade him to remain, but he concluded that he had accomplished all he could as acting secretary. His successor, Chad Wolf, was sworn in on November 13, 2019. A later Government Accountability Office review determined that McAleenan’s appointment as acting secretary did not comply with statutory requirements.

After leaving government service, McAleenan transitioned to the private sector, taking on executive roles that maintain connections to national defense and security. He served as CEO and former president of BigBear.ai, a company that holds multiple contracts with the United States Department of Defense.

Legacy

Kevin McAleenan’s career reflects extensive experience in federal law enforcement, border security, and homeland protection. His leadership positions within CBP placed him at the center of significant policy debates concerning immigration enforcement, family separation, and border infrastructure modernization. The controversy surrounding his appointment as acting secretary highlighted procedural issues within executive succession protocols.

In the private sector, McAleenan has continued to engage with defense-related enterprises, leveraging his government experience in roles that intersect with national security technology and operations. His professional trajectory illustrates a sustained focus on safeguarding U.S. borders while navigating complex legal and humanitarian considerations inherent in homeland security policy implementation.