McAleenan practiced law in the private sector from 1998 until 2001, when terrorist attacks that September motivated him to apply to work for the FBI. He was recruited to help start up the new CBP Office of Antiterrorism, eventually becoming its executive director. In 2006, he became CBP's area director of Los Angeles International Airport. During his time as the port director of LAX, he was responsible for the security operations for that airport as well as 17 other airport facilities. After two years in private consulting, McAleenan returned to CBP in 2010, leading field operations. In 2011 McAleenan became the assistant commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations. In this position he was in charge of airport operations and responsible for securing the US border while ensuring lawful trade and travel at 329 ports of entry in the United States, as well as 70 locations in more than 40 countries. McAleenan served as deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection from 2014 to 2017.
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Nomination
McAleenan served as acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection from January 2017 to March 20, 2018. President Donald Trump nominated McAleenan to assume the position of commissioner in a permanent capacity in May 2017. McAleenan's previous nomination was supported by officials from both the George W. Bush and the Barack Obama administrations, a number of whom signed a letter to Congress expressing "enthusiastic support" for the "supremely qualified" McAleenan. Trump officially submitted the nomination to the Senate on May 22. The Senate confirmed McAleenan's nomination on March 19, 2018, by a vote of 77–19. He was sworn in on March 20, 2018.
Tenure
In August 2018, McAleenan was interviewed by The New York Times and said he was aware that it is illegal to detain families longer than 90 days. He also said he felt Trump's executive order was an "important recalibration" and that "well-intended efforts are not going to succeed if they lose public interest." McAleenan supports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying it does "critical work." He has said that there is no intent for indefinite or permanent family separation, and acknowledged that the CBP's job is to enforce the law. In September 2018, McAleenan told the USA Today editorial board he planned to spend more time "analyzing ways to modernize border patrol facilities" and intended to travel to the southwest United States, where most of the migrant children were being held. On June 28, 2019, McAleenan criticized media reports of conditions for detained migrants at the United States-Mexico border. He claimed that, contrary to reports, detained children had "appropriate meals" and "showers as soon as they can be provided." But a July 2, 2019 Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report found that some detention facilities in Rio Grande Valley had violated CBP standards by not granting children access to showers or hot meals.
Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
President Trump designated McAleenan as Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security on April 8, 2019, following Kirstjen Nielsen's resignation. McAleenan resigned from the post on October 11, 2019. Trump announced McAleenan's departure on Twitter, saying that McAleenan wanted to "spend more time with his family and go to the private sector." CNN reported that White House officials tried to talk him out of resigning, but McAleenan felt he had accomplished all he could as acting secretary. Trump also announced that he would name McAleenan's successor the following week; his successor, Chad Wolf, was sworn in on November 13, 2019.
Awards
In 2005, McAleenan received the Service to America Medal, Call to Service Award for his leadership and help in developing and implementing a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy for border security after September 11, 2001. In 2015, McAleenan was awarded the Presidential Rank Award, the highest civil service award in the United States.
