Ken Cuccinelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken Cuccinelli
Official portrait, 2019
Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
De facto, unlawful
In office November 13, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	David Pekoske
Succeeded by	David Pekoske (acting)
Acting Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
De facto, unlawful
In office June 10, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	L. Francis Cissna
Succeeded by	Tracy Renaud (acting)
Principal Deputy Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
In office June 10, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
46th Attorney General of Virginia
In office January 16, 2010 – January 11, 2014
Governor	Bob McDonnell
Preceded by	Bill Mims
Succeeded by	Mark Herring
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 37th district
In office August 19, 2002 – January 12, 2010
Preceded by	Warren E. Barry
Succeeded by	David W. Marsden
Personal details
Born	Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II (1968-07-30) July 30, 1968 (age 56) Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Alice Monteiro Davis ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	7
Education	University of Virginia (BS) George Mason University (MA, JD)
Signature

Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II (born July 30, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician. He was the acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2019 to 2021. This role helps manage the safety and security of the United States.

Cuccinelli is a member of the Republican Party. He also served as the acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This agency handles legal immigration and citizenship. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Virginia from 2010 to 2014.

He also served in the Virginia Senate from 2002 to 2010. In 2013, Cuccinelli ran for Governor of Virginia. He lost to the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe. Some of his appointments were later found not to follow all legal rules.

Early Life and Education

Cuccinelli was born in Edison, New Jersey. His father's family came from Italy, and his mother's family came from Ireland. He went to Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from high school in 1986.

He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree there. Later, he earned a law degree (Juris Doctor) from George Mason University School of Law. He also received a Master of Arts degree in international commerce and policy from George Mason University.

Political Career

Cuccinelli started his career by helping to create a law firm in Fairfax, Virginia.

Virginia State Senate (2002–2010)

Cuccinelli first ran for the state Senate in 2002. He won a special election in the 37th District. He was re-elected for his first full term in 2003. In 2007, he won re-election again by a very small number of votes. He served in the Virginia Senate until 2010.

Attorney General of Virginia (2010–2014)

In 2009, Cuccinelli was chosen as the Republican candidate for attorney general. He won the election with 58% of the votes. He became the Attorney General of Virginia on January 16, 2010.

Healthcare and Immigration

In 2010, Cuccinelli was the first attorney general to challenge a federal healthcare law. This law was called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He argued that it was not allowed by the U.S. Constitution.

He also took action on immigration. In 2010, he supported other states in a lawsuit about an Arizona immigration law. He also allowed law enforcement to check the immigration status of people they stopped.

Environmental Issues

Cuccinelli questioned some scientific findings about climate change. In 2010, he asked a court to review the United States Environmental Protection Agency's findings. These findings said that certain gases harm public health. A court later rejected his arguments.

He also challenged rules about how much fuel vehicles could use. In 2010, he investigated a climate researcher at the University of Virginia. He asked for many documents from the researcher. A judge later ruled that Cuccinelli did not have the power to make these demands. This was seen as a win for academic freedom.

Consumer Protection

During his time as Attorney General, his office helped people get money back from companies. They settled cases where auto-title lenders charged too much interest. They also sued mortgage companies for charging illegal fees.

2013 Virginia Governor Election

After being attorney general, many thought Cuccinelli might run for governor. On November 30, 2011, he announced he would run for governor in 2013. He continued to serve as attorney general during his campaign.

On November 5, 2013, Cuccinelli lost the election to Terry McAuliffe. The difference was about 56,000 votes.

Other Activities (2014–2017)

In 2014, Cuccinelli helped start a company that farms oysters in Tangier, Virginia.

During the 2016 presidential election, he advised Ted Cruz's campaign. He worked to help Cruz win delegates for the Republican convention. In 2016, he decided not to run for governor in 2017.

In May 2016, Cuccinelli became a lawyer for the FreedomWorks Foundation. In this role, he helps state attorneys general who want to challenge federal rules. In 2017, he filed a legal brief against a law that froze electricity rates. He argued that the law allowed power companies to charge too much.

Acting USCIS Director (2019–2021)

In June 2019, Cuccinelli was appointed to a role at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This allowed him to become the acting Director of the agency. As the head of USCIS, he managed the systems for legal immigration. He stated that he saw immigration as a privilege, not a right. He said USCIS was a "vetting agency," meaning it checks people carefully.

Time in Office

In July 2019, Cuccinelli discussed a tragedy at the border. He said that people who try to cross illegally, rather than waiting for the legal process, put themselves in danger. He also mentioned plans to deport about 1 million immigrants who had already been ordered to leave the country.

In August 2019, Cuccinelli announced new rules for legal immigration. These rules made it harder to get green cards or visas if people might need government benefits. When asked about the Statue of Liberty poem, he said the new rules were consistent with older immigration laws.

In October 2019, Cuccinelli ended a program that allowed some people to stay in the U.S. for medical care. He later changed this decision after many people complained.

In March 2020, a court ruled that Cuccinelli's appointment as USCIS director was not legal. The court said he had not followed all the rules for the position. This ruling caused some of his decisions to be put on hold.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

Time in Office

Cuccinelli became a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in January 2020. This group worked on the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cuccinelli tours the U.S. Capitol after the January 6, 2021, event.

In July 2020, during the pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new rule. It said international students in the U.S. would be deported if their classes were only online. Cuccinelli defended this rule. He said it was meant to encourage universities to have in-person classes. Many universities were considering online classes for safety.

That same month, Cuccinelli supported sending federal agents to Portland, Oregon. These agents wore camouflage and tactical gear. They picked up protesters and took them into unmarked vehicles.

During his time, Cuccinelli also changed how the DHS intelligence group worked. It no longer needed approval from a civil liberties office for some reports. After this change, the group started collecting information on journalists covering the Portland events.

A complaint in September 2020 said Cuccinelli ordered the intelligence group to change its reports. It said he wanted them to focus less on white supremacy groups. Instead, he wanted them to focus more on "left-wing" groups like antifa.

Another complaint in February 2021 said that Cuccinelli signed an agreement with an ICE agents' union. This agreement was signed the day before a new president took office. It gave agents more power over policy changes. The complaint said this was done to make it harder for the new president to change immigration rules.

The Heritage Foundation

In February 2021, Cuccinelli became a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation. This is a research organization. He wrote several articles for them before leaving at a later date. In 2023, he wrote a chapter about the Department of Homeland Security for a book by The Heritage Foundation.

Political Views

Cuccinelli receiving the "Defender of the Constitution" Award in February 2012.

Gun Rights

Cuccinelli strongly supports gun rights. He has supported laws to allow people to carry concealed handguns in more places. He also worked to protect information about handgun permits.

He believes that mental health issues are a main cause of mass shootings. He thinks that better access to mental healthcare can help prevent them. He has also pushed for rules to stop mentally ill people from getting guns.

Immigration

Cuccinelli is known for his strict views on immigration. He has supported President Trump's immigration policies. When he was in Virginia politics, he pushed for laws that would require employees to speak English at work. He has also wanted to change laws about birthright citizenship. He also sought to prevent undocumented immigrants from attending Virginia colleges.

Taxes

In 2006, Cuccinelli criticized a gasoline tax increase. In his 2013 campaign for governor, he suggested cutting income and corporate tax rates. He said he would make up for the lost money by slowing government spending and removing some tax breaks.

Property Rights

Cuccinelli has worked to protect private property rights. He supported laws to prevent local governments from taking private homes for private development projects. In 2012, he championed a change to Virginia's Constitution. This change would stop the government from taking private land for private gain. Voters approved this change in a referendum.

Law Enforcement

In 2005, Cuccinelli supported a law that gave overtime pay to law enforcement officers. This included pay for hours worked while on vacation.

Electoral History

Personal Life

Cuccinelli is a Catholic. He is married to Alice Monteiro Davis. They met in high school and went to prom together. They reconnected in college and married in October 1991. They have seven children. The family lives in Nokesville.

See also

• Virginia elections, 2009
• Virginia elections, 2013