Swordsmyth
07-18-2018, 01:36 AM
Four members of a Homeland Security advisory council have resigned in protest over the Trump administration's immigration policies, citing the "morally repugnant" practice of separating immigrant families at the border. Richard Danzig, former secretary of the Navy in the Clinton administration, and Elizabeth Holtzman, a Democratic former congresswoman, were among the group that announced their resignation in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Monday.
The group noted that the Department of Homeland Security did not consult its advisory council before implementing the policy, which separated more than 2,500 children until President Donald Trump reversed his endorsement of the practice amid an international outcry and signed an order instructing the agency to stop doing so.
"Were we consulted, we would have observed that routinely taking children from migrant parents was morally repugnant, counter-productive and ill-considered," the group wrote. "We cannot tolerate association with the immigration policies of this administration, nor the illusion that we are consulted on these matters."
Two former Obama administration officials - David Martin, a former DHS deputy general counsel during the Obama administration, and Matthew Olsen, who served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center -- also signed the letter.
Bill Bratton, a former New York City police commissioner who is vice chairman of the advisory council, thanked the group for their service in an email reply, but he did not respond directly to the criticism.
"Each of you was appointed owing to lifelong dedication to the nation and her people, and, indeed, I can appreciate that each of you sees this resignation as part of that dedication," Bratton wrote.
Advisory council members are appointed by the Homeland Security secretary to two-year terms. There are 24 members, according to the DHS website. The council meets infrequently, usually no more than twice a year, and includes subcommittees to conduct research and recommendations on DHS policies.
More at: https://www.sfgate.com/news/articleComments/Homeland-Security-advisory-council-members-resign-13082103.php
The group noted that the Department of Homeland Security did not consult its advisory council before implementing the policy, which separated more than 2,500 children until President Donald Trump reversed his endorsement of the practice amid an international outcry and signed an order instructing the agency to stop doing so.
"Were we consulted, we would have observed that routinely taking children from migrant parents was morally repugnant, counter-productive and ill-considered," the group wrote. "We cannot tolerate association with the immigration policies of this administration, nor the illusion that we are consulted on these matters."
Two former Obama administration officials - David Martin, a former DHS deputy general counsel during the Obama administration, and Matthew Olsen, who served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center -- also signed the letter.
Bill Bratton, a former New York City police commissioner who is vice chairman of the advisory council, thanked the group for their service in an email reply, but he did not respond directly to the criticism.
"Each of you was appointed owing to lifelong dedication to the nation and her people, and, indeed, I can appreciate that each of you sees this resignation as part of that dedication," Bratton wrote.
Advisory council members are appointed by the Homeland Security secretary to two-year terms. There are 24 members, according to the DHS website. The council meets infrequently, usually no more than twice a year, and includes subcommittees to conduct research and recommendations on DHS policies.
More at: https://www.sfgate.com/news/articleComments/Homeland-Security-advisory-council-members-resign-13082103.php