Mayorkas Criticized for Brief North Carolina Visit Amid Hurricane Crisis

DHS Secretary returns to DC for upscale dining after short trip to assess storm damage, sparking bipartisan backlash.

Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS Secretary, spent under six hours in North Carolina to assess Hurricane Helene's impact before returning to Washington, D.C.
Mayorkas was photographed picking up takeout from the upscale sushi restaurant Nobu shortly after his return to the capital.
Critics, including lawmakers from both parties, argue that Mayorkas' actions demonstrate insensitivity and a lack of commitment to disaster relief efforts.
The Secretary's brief visit to North Carolina was part of his second trip to the region since the hurricane made landfall in late September.
Mayorkas defended his actions, stating that resources are not being diverted from Hurricane Helene relief to address Hurricane Milton's aftermath.