Gene Hamilton (lawyer) explained

Gene P. Hamilton is an American lawyer and policymaker who served within the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security[1] during the presidency of Donald J. Trump. In these positions, he played key roles in ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, creating the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" family separation policy,[2] [3] [4] and in revoking the Temporary Protected Status of immigrants from Sudan and South Sudan.[5]

Hamilton currently serves as the Vice President of America First Legal,[6] [7] a legal action group founded by former Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller. In this role, he has represented the state of Texas in a lawsuit aiming to reinstate Trump-era policies that bar unaccompanied migrant children from entering the United States.[8] He also serves as the treasurer for Citizens for Sanity, a conservative political action committee.[9]

In 2023, Hamilton authored the chapter on the Department of Justice for the ninth edition of the Heritage Foundation's book Mandate for Leadership, which provides the policy agenda for Project 2025.[10]

Education and early career

Hamilton was raised in Arizona. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, and a J.D. from the Washington and Lee School of Law in 2010.[11] While attending law school, Hamilton interned at the Krome Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Miami, Florida;[12] upon graduation he accepted a role as an Honors Attorney at the Department of Homeland Security,[13] eventually returning to ICE in its Office of Chief Counsel in Georgia.

In 2015, Hamilton left the Department to become General Counsel to then-Senator Jeff Sessions, under whom he would later work at the Department of Justice when Sessions became the United States Attorney General. In 2016, Hamilton joined the Trump transition team, ultimately leading its immigration policy efforts.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kopan. Tal. 2017-10-27. First on CNN: Top Trump immigration staffer decamping DHS for DOJ CNN Politics. 2021-11-10. CNN. en.
  2. Blitzer. Jonathan. 2017-11-10. A Trump Official Behind the End of DACA Explains Himself. 2021-11-10. The New Yorker. en-US.
  3. News: Shear. Michael D.. Benner. Katie. Schmidt. Michael S.. 2020-10-06. 'We Need to Take Away Children,' No Matter How Young, Justice Dept. Officials Said. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-10. 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: Miroff. Nick. Zapotosky. Matt. January 14, 2021. Trump's 'zero tolerance' border policy was pushed aggressively by Jeff Sessions, despite warnings, Justice Dept. review finds. November 10, 2021. New York Times.
  5. Web site: 2021-05-06. Former Trump Administration Official Gene Hamilton's Contacts with Far-Right Anti-Immigration Groups. 2021-11-10. American Oversight. en-US.
  6. Web site: Orr. Gabby. Stephen Miller to launch a new legal group to give Biden fits. 2021-11-10. POLITICO. 26 March 2021 . en.
  7. Web site: Keene. Houston. 2021-08-12. Stephen Miller's group accuses Biden admin of hiding docs on Supreme Court commission. 2021-11-10. Fox News. en-US.
  8. Web site: Alleging Conflict of Interest, DOJ Seeks to Disqualify Ex-Trump Official From Texas Immigration Lawsuit. 2021-11-10. Texas Lawyer. en.
  9. News: Massoglia . Anna . New 'dark money' group tied to former Trump officials launches provocative ads ahead of 2022 midterms . October 18, 2022 . . September 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221018012447/https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/09/new-dark-money-group-tied-to-former-trump-officials-launches-provocative-ads-ahead-of-2022-midterms/ . October 18, 2022 . live.
  10. Book: Hamilton, Gene . Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise . . 2023 . 978-0-89195-174-2 . Dans . Paul . 545-579 . Department of Justice . 2024-07-22 . Groves . Steven . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409001727/https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf . 2024-04-09 . live.
  11. Web site: W&L Law - Spring/Summer 2010 by Washington and Lee School of Law - Issuu. 2021-11-10. issuu.com. 4 August 2010 . en.
  12. Web site: The Frontline Interview: Karen Tumlin. 2021-11-11. FRONTLINE. en-US.
  13. Web site: 2015-05-27. Hear from Recent Honors Attorneys. 2021-11-10. Department of Homeland Security. en.