Who is Kamala Harris' controversial new communications director and why is he apologizing

Jamal Simmons, a Democratic aide who has been appointed as Vice President Kamala Harris' new communications director, apologized on Friday for his comments from 10 years ago after a tweet emerged asking why they were not arresting him. undocumented immigrants.

"As an expert for much of my career, I have tweeted and talked a lot about public affairs. At times I have been sarcastic, unclear, or just off target," Simmons said in a statement.

"

that America is the best version of the multi-ethnic and diverse country that it is. I know that the role I will play is to represent the Biden-Harris Administration and so will. I will do it with humility, sincerity and respect, "he added.

Jamal Simmons speaks about the 2016 election in New York City on November 27, 2016.John Lamparski / Getty Images

Harris's plans to name Simmons as his new communications director were first reported by

news portal on Thursday.

He will replace Ashley Etienne, who left office in December "to seek other opportunities."

[Only two states removed "dehumanizing" terms to refer to immigrants]

Controversy over Simmons' naming was sparked after a 2010 tweet was circulated again saying:

I just saw 2 undocumented people talking on MSNBC.

One law student and the other a protester.

Can someone explain to me why ICE is not taking them? "

Then, in response to a question from a user, he added "I am not suggesting that ICE stop them. I just find it strange that you can go on TV and admit that you broke the law without being arrested."

Immigration advisor Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Imigration Council, a nonprofit organization that advocates pro-immigrant policy, criticized Simmons's comment.

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"This is VP Harris's new communications director. I really hope he has publicly apologized for this," he wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a mention of Simmons' tweet that sparked the controversy.

I really hope he publicly apologized for this. "

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Advisor

"Also, I really hope that as a communication specialist in 2022, you no longer use bigoted terms like 'illegal," he said, referring to a tweet in which Simmons uses the pejorative term.

Simmons, 50, of Michigan, has been involved in politics since the Clinton Administration.

He later served as deputy communications director for Al Gore's presidential campaign, according to The Hill.

He also served as an advisor to Senator Bob Graham, D-Florida, and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark, and was chief adviser to Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Michigan.