Washington, DC – The following is a reaction from Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, regarding the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary vacancy:

“This week, John Kelly became President Trump’s Chief of Staff, leaving a vacancy to head the Department of Homeland Security. During Kelly’s tenure with DHS, he dutifully executed some of the most bigoted parts of the Trump agenda in banning Muslims and forcing deportations of innocent people.

None of these policies make us any safer; they only serve to sow fear and resentment against immigrants, Latinos, and Muslims.

The next DHS Secretary will inherit these horrific policies, and he or she must bring an understanding of how discrimination makes us all less safe and is unconstitutional.

We’ve seen a disturbing trend of nominations and appointments of people who have shown naked and clear hostility against Muslims, Latinos, the LGBTQ community, African Americans, and many other communities. Whomever President Trump appoints must have a commitment to fairness and inclusivity.

We urge the President to appoint a fair-minded head to DHS, because another Bannon, Sessions, Flynn, or Mark Green in this role would be an unmitigated disaster for our Constitution, our national security, and the country. ”

Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.

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