50 Leaders Bring Executive Branch Experience to National Security and Immigration

Contact: Roberto Estrada 
restrada@monumentadvocacy.com

WASHINGTON – Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) leader C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. announced today that CNSI has reached 50 members, a milestone that reflects the growing national focus on the intersection of immigration policy and U.S. security priorities.

"This year has shown how closely immigration and national security are linked, and how essential it is to have leaders with real operational and policy experience contributing to the national conversation,” said Verdery. “Reaching 50 members underscores the continued need for trusted voices who understand how decisions on immigration enforcement, border management, refugee policy, and agency staffing affect the country’s security posture.

“Throughout 2025, CNSI members have provided insight into mission shifts within federal agencies, evolving enforcement strategies, rising global instability, and the increasing demand placed on the departments responsible for protecting the homeland. As immigration issues remain central to national debates, CNSI will continue supporting informed and security-focused discussions. The Council’s members bring decades of firsthand knowledge that help ensure immigration policy advances the safety, stability, and strategic interests of the United States.”

CNSI leaders are available for on- and off-the-record conversations. A summary of their experience and areas of expertise are available online.

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Leaders of CNSI speak and act solely in their individual capacities, and their views should not be attributed to any organization with which they are affiliated.

About Stewart Verdery:  Stewart Verdery is the Founder of Monument Advocacy, a public policy and public affairs firm in Washington. Prior to launching Monument, Verdery served as the first Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following his unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. At DHS’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate, he oversaw agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration. He led efforts to develop and implement policies related to immigration, visas, and travel facilitation; cargo security and international trade; transportation security; and law enforcement. Verdery worked extensively with foreign governments, frequently testified before Congress, and publicly represented the administration on a diverse set of issues. Stewart also chaired official government advisory committees on international trade and tourism and served on the President’s Advisory Committee to Protect Americans’ Civil Liberties. Read more here.

About CNSI: The Council on National Security and Immigration is a group of American national security leaders who believe immigration reforms are imperative to bolster and maintain the United States’ global leadership in the 21st century. Find out more here: www.cnsiusa.org