ICYMI: 45 Members of Congress Join Reps. Frankel, Torres, Roybal-Allard, Lofgren in Letter Opposing Anti-Immigrant State Department Nominee
Washington,
April 25, 2019
The letter asserts that Mr. Mortensen’s disparaging comments toward immigrants disqualify him from managing the bureau responsible for refugee and migration policies and programs, especially as the world faces the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-21), Norma Torres (CA-35), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), and 45 Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging the Trump Administration to immediately withdraw Ronald Mortensen’s nomination to be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. The letter asserts that Mr. Mortensen’s disparaging comments toward immigrants disqualify him from managing the bureau responsible for refugee and migration policies and programs, especially as the world faces the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
In part, the letter reads, “We urge the Administration to immediately withdraw Mr. Mortensen’s nomination and identify a qualified individual who understands our country’s moral and legal obligations to assist refugees. Failing to do so would severely undermine our global diplomatic and humanitarian leadership and send a distressing message that the United States is turning its back on the world’s most vulnerable people.”
In July 2018, Democrats sent a similar letter, helping delay Mr. Mortensen’s confirmation. With the start of the new Congress in January, President Trump re-nominated him for the position and his nomination awaits Senate confirmation.
Full letter text can be found here.
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