Washington, D.C. — Following the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation announcement from the agency, the Latino Victory Project today is calling on all U.S. Senators to reject any replacement nomination unwilling to disavow President Trump’s family separation policies and the incarceration of migrant children.
“Kirstjen Nielsen’s tenure at DHS will always be remembered as one of America’s darkest times. Immigrants died — including two children — families were torn apart, children were locked in cages and thousands of them remain misplaced. All of these unconscionable human rights abuses happened under her watch,” said Latino Victory Project Interim President Melissa Mark Viverito. “But make no mistake: Nielsen’s departure opens up the door for President Trump to nominate someone who will be even more extreme in promulgating his dangerous anti-immigrant agenda. That’s why Latino Victory Project is calling on all U.S. Senators to reject any Trump administration nominee who is unwilling to explicitly disavow President Trump’s family separation policies and the incarceration of migrant children. We believe that this is a ripe opportunity for DHS to begin reversing its wrongdoings and regaining the trust of the American people, but only if the Senate chooses to confirm someone who will respect basic human rights and uphold our nation’s values.”
As DHS Secretary, Nielsen leaves behind a legacy of lying to the American people and committing unconscionable human rights abuses of immigrants. Under President Trump, 22 immigrants have died in ICE custody.
