The White House will name Chad Wolf as acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according tosources briefed on the decision. Wolf is a top DHS official currently serving as the department's undersecretary.
"Wolf is an extremely qualified DHS leader, highly respected, well-versed in the policies and inner workings of the department, its vast mission and issue sets. He remains the best viable option to advance the president's priorities. An all- around excellent pick," a senior DHS Official told NPR.
The move was
first reported by Politico. The White House has declined to comment.
President Trump announced earlier this month that acting Homeland Security Secretary
Kevin McAleenan was leaving his post. Wolf would be the fifth person to lead the department since Trump took office.
As NPR's Franco Ordoñez reported, that
set off a wave of jockeying as various factions inside the White House pushed for candidates who support their agendas.
Wolf would seem to be a less controversial choice than others, in that he has not publicly espoused the hard-line views on immigration that the acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli has, for instance.
Some advocates for immigration restrictions have raised concerns about Wolf's prior work as a lobbyist on H-1B and other employment visas - programs that Trump has opposed. Wolf would become the latest person in charge at DHS "who is not completely on board" with Trump's immigration agenda, said RJ Hauman, head of government relations at the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"If officially named, Wolf must recuse himself from work on all guest worker related issues, not just H-1B and L-1," Hauman said.
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