After an investigation lasting more than two years, the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security found that Alejandro Mayorkas, the deputy secretary, intervened directly to gain fast-track consideration of visas for foreign investors connected to Democrats when he was the head of the visa agency.
In a report published Tuesday, the inspector general, John Roth, said Mayorkas' conduct had left "an appearance of favoritism and special access" and created "significant resentment" among employees of the agency, Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The report does not suggest that any laws were broken or recommend any punishment.
The inquiry, which was prompted by internal complaints from agency employees, found that Mayorkas had become personally involved and used pressure to expedite visa reviews in three cases in a program that gives visas to certain foreigners who invest in American businesses.
In one, Mayorkas intervened in a review for an electric-car company whose chairman was Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who is now governor of Virginia.
At the time, the chief executive of a company channeling the investments was Anthony Rodham, the brother of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state and now a likely presidential candidate.
In another case, according to the report, Mayorkas pushed for faster action for Asian investors in a hotel and casino in Las Vegas that was heavily promoted by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., then the majority leader.
Senior Obama administration officials rallied to Mayorkas' defense Tuesday.
In a lengthy statement, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called him "an exceptionally conscientious, honest and patriotic public official."
He said Mayorkas had been "impatient with our sluggish government bureaucracy" and had been forcefully involved in efforts to make it more efficient.
"I continue to have full confidence in Ali Mayorkas," Johnson said. But he said he had "ongoing concerns" about the investor visa program and was ordering new procedures to make it less vulnerable to outside influence.
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said he plans to hold a hearing this week to review the report's findings and determine whether "further oversight by my committee is warranted."
Calling the report's findings "extremely concerning," McCaul added that they appeared at odds with the visa agency's "expressed mission to administer the nation's immigration system fairly, honestly and correctly."
A Section on 03/25/2015