Anti-Immigrant Extremist Nominated to Run Refugee Office at State Department Share

Washington, D.C.—In response to the nomination of Ronald Mortensen to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, the senior-most American diplomat representing the United States in matters relating to the most vulnerable populations in the world, Human Rights First’s Jennifer Quigley issued the following statement:

“Mortensen has spent the past several years working at an anti-immigrant hate group, spewing vile, extremist views that have no relation to reality. At a time when the world is facing the worst displacement crisis since World World II, it is astounding President Trump would nominate an individual with a hostile attitude toward immigrants.

“Mortensen’s nomination is like choosing the fox to guard the hen house.”