Mayorkas was scheduled to join US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his trip to Colombia to discuss various issues, including irregular migration and narcotics trafficking, but will no longer be travelling due to the positive test.
The homeland security chief, who was fully vaccinated, represents another so-called “breakthrough” case among high-ranking government officials such as state Department spokesperson Ned Price, who recently recovered from a bout of COVID-19.
Mayorkas had contact with President Joe Biden just days ago at the 40th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Saturday.