Senate Must Reject Wolf’s Nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security

Fighting Hate & Bias News, Immigrant Rights News 09.23.20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2020
Contact: Janessa Sambola-Harris, [email protected]

WASHINGTON—Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement as the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs considers the nomination of Chad Wolf to be the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security:

“Chad Wolf’s appointment as acting secretary of Homeland Security was in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Moreover, he has shown blatant disregard for, and regularly violates, civil and human rights. His actions as part of the Trump administration make communities less safe and further entrench Trump’s white supremacist agenda.

“Now more than ever, we need a secretary who will accurately assess and defend the United States from threats, independent of the president’s political whims and follies. Chad Wolf has demonstrated throughout his illegitimate tenure as acting secretary that he is incapable and unwilling to carry out his duties as such and is therefore clearly unqualified to be confirmed. The Leadership Conference calls on the Senate to reject his nomination.”

Background

  • Wolf has overseen the sterilization of Black and Brown women without their consent in ICE detention centers, as alleged in whistleblower allegations last week.
  • He plays a key role in implementing family separation policies that rip thousands of young immigrant children away from their parents and is sabotaging DACA and TPS, violating court orders.
  • He ordered intelligence reports to be amended to minimize the true threat of white nationalists to our national security.
  • Wolf personally ordered DHS agents in unmarked uniforms to Portland where they apprehended civilians off the streets without reason

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.