Col. (Ret.) Emilio T. González Joins America First Policy Institute as Senior Fellow While Running for Miami Mayor

MIAMI, FL – June 9, 2025 — Col. (Ret.) Emilio T. González, a retired U.S. Army officer and former federal immigration chief, has been named Senior Fellow for Homeland Security and Immigration at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). The announcement comes as González campaigns for mayor of Miami, a high-stakes November 2025 race that could determine whether the city stays red or shifts blue.

González’s appointment brings national security and immigration gravitas to a mayoral bid already rooted in executive experience and reform-driven leadership. The America First Policy Institute—founded by senior leaders from President Donald Trump’s first administration—has become a key policy engine behind the current Trump administration, shaping federal, state, and local agendas through its 150+ staff and tens of millions in backing.

As Senior Fellow, González will support AFPI’s work on border security, immigration reform, and homeland defense—issues he has helped lead at the highest levels. He previously served as Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, earning DHS’s Distinguished Service Medal, and as Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council.

Most recently, he served on the 2024 Trump transition team for the Department of Homeland Security, advising on personnel and implementation strategy.

Now back in his hometown, González is running for mayor on a platform of restoring trust in local government, increasing transparency, bolstering public safety, and rolling back property taxes to ease the burden on working families. In a city grappling with rising crime, cost-of-living pressures, and a crisis of confidence in leadership, his campaign is striking a chord with residents looking for serious reform—not soundbites.

Although Miami’s mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, the political stakes are clear. With several contenders already in the field, the election is shaping up as a defining choice between the status quo and a government that puts residents first—where small businesses can thrive, neighborhoods are safe, and families believe their children will have a future in the city they built.

González’s dual role—national policy leader and local reform candidate—offers a rare combination of experience and vision. As the race heats up, he’s poised to help shape not only the future of Miami, but also the broader national conversation on immigration, public safety, tax relief, and accountable governance under the current Trump administration.