WASHINGTON – Following news that President Trump planned to appoint Chad Wolf to acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Restore Public Trust made the following statement:

“Chad Wolf’s involvement in the horrifying child separation policy — and lying about it under oath — disqualifies him from serving as acting secretary, full stop,” said Lizzy Price, director of Restore Public Trust. “Not only did Wolf promote the child separation policy, but he lied to Congress about his role in crafting the policy. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s the protege of Kristjen Nielsen, under whose watch children taken from their families were abused and sexually assaulted. Some even died. Chad Wolf would be a rubber stamp for this administration’s inhumane policies and should be disqualified to lead the Department of Homeland Security.”

In December 2017, Wolf sent an email to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ counsel in his capacity as then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen’s chief of staff that outlined 16 options for curbing undocumented immigration. Among the list was “separate family units,” as well as expediting the deportation of children and requiring migrants to seek asylum in Mexico. When Senator Jacky Rosen questioned Wolf’s involvement and support for migrant family separation during a June 2019 confirmation hearing, Wolf testified under oath that he had not helped develop the policy, saying that he learned of the administration’s plan in April 2018. He also claimed it was not his job to “determine whether it was the right or wrong policy,” but said he agreed with Trump’s executive order ending zero-tolerance. 

Background:

December 2017: As Then-Secretary Of DHS Kirstjen Nielsen’s Acting Chief Of Staff, Wolf Pushed Family Separation As A Way To Curb Undocumented Immigration

December 2017: As Nielsen’s Acting Chief Of Staff, Wolf Sent Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Counsel A List Of 16 Options To Curb Undocumented Immigration. “As far back as December 2017, when Wolf was acting chief of staff to Nielsen, he sent a list of 16 options to curb the number of undocumented immigrants to Gene Hamilton, counselor to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, for review.” [NBC News, 10/22/19]

• The List Included Family Separation, Expedited Child Deportation, And Requiring Migrants To Seek Asylum In Mexico. “Number two on the list: ‘Separate family units.’ […] Also included on the list were policies that would speed up the deportation of children (which has not come to pass) and require immigrants to seek asylum in Mexico (which has since been announced).” [NBC News, 10/22/19]

June 2019: During A Senate Confirmation Hearing, Wolf Denied Helping Develop The Trump Administration’s Zero-Tolerance Policy, Saying He Became Aware Of It In April 2018

June 2019: Wolf Denied Helping Develop The Zero-Tolerance Policy. “ROSEN: Did you help develop that policy? WOLF: No, ma’am, again, we were given direction both through an executive order and the attorney general’s zero-tolerance policy at the time. The discussions that were underway at the department at that time were operational.” [U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Full Committee Hearing on the Nominations of Chad F. Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, et al, 00:57:50, 6/12/19]

June 2019: Wolf Claimed He Learned Of The Policy Through Discussions With Staff In April 2018. “ROSEN: Let me ask it this way, as her chief of staff then, how did you become aware of this policy? WOLF: Through discussions with staff, discussions leading up to the attorney general’s announcement, I believe in April of 2018.” [U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Full Committee Hearing on the Nominations of Chad F. Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, et al, 00:58:08, 6/12/19]