Senate Must Reject Nomination of Department of Homeland Security’s Chad Wolf and End his Reign of Terror

Reports of coerced hysterectomies at a Georgia ICE facility are just latest act of cruelty to take place at DHS under Wolf

WASHINGTON — In the face of rampant human rights violations under his watch as Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Chad Wolf will sit before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today for a confirmation hearing to become the permanent head of DHS.

This hearing comes less than a week after Wolf refused to comply with a subpoena to appear at a House hearing to respond to allegations of coerced hysterectomies at the Irwin County ICE detention facility in Georgia detailed by whistleblower Dawn Wooten. The allegations out of Georgia are just the latest reports of cruelties under Wolf’s DHS reign. In recent years, Wolf helped design barbaric family separation policies, led a cursory response to the COVID-19 crisis — leading to senseless loss of life; proudly sent unmarked military-style officers to Portland who tear gassed protesters; and more.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund joins with leaders of the immigrant rights community to demand that the Senate reject Chad Wolf’s nomination.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Chad Wolf’s reign at the Department of Homeland Security has been one of terror. Health care and consent to medical services are critical in allowing people to live free from human and reproductive rights violations, yet Wolf has overseen the agency during these horrific sterilization accusations and COVID-19 outbreaks. From his role in DHS’s abhorrent family separation policy to his tear gassing of protestors, he has proven time and time again that he has no respect for health care access, free speech, or even basic human dignity. Wolf has made clear that he does not value immigrants as human beings with autonomy and rights, but rather sees them as bodies to be controlled. It is shameful that he was ever allowed to take up this leadership position, and it is completely unacceptable that the Senate Majority plans to let his abuses continue with their stamp of approval. The Senate must reject the nomination of Chad Wolf to become the permanent head of DHS.”

###

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.