In a vote 52 to 44León Rodríguez was confirmed by the Senate as the new director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
President Obama nominated him to the position in December 2013 to replace Alejandro Mayorkas, who left to become deputy director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The Director of USCIS is responsible for the administration and processing of asylum applications, naturalization, visa petitions and immigration benefits.
Rodriguez is a native of the United States, the son of Cuban immigrants. A lawyer by profession, Rodriguez has held several government positions.
Since 2011 Rodriguez has been the director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, he was chief of staff and assistant attorney general of the Civil Rights Division, overseeing discrimination cases based on national origin and immigration status.
