Donald Trump is facing criticism from some of his supporters over his selection of Andy Puzder for labor secretary given the fast-food executive's past support for immigration reform.
Breitbart News, formerly headed by Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon, posted a scathing piece on Thursday decrying Puzder as "diametrically opposed" to Trump's immigration and trade positions.
The conservative site charged Puzder of preferring "foreign labor to American workers" and suggesting to fill U.S. jobs with "imported foreign labor." The article also condemned Puzder's "support for immigration amnesty," citing several op-eds written by the millionaire businessman that advocate a path to citizenship for those who arrived in the U.S. illegally.
Puzder, the chief executive of CKE Restaurants, which owns Hardee's and Carl's Jr. burger chains, said in 2013 that immigration reform would produce "a more diverse, incentivized, and productive workforce." The comments were made while the Senate was debating legislation that would overhaul the immigration system and establish a path to citizenship for some.
The Federation of American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, which advocates for lower levels of immigration, said Puzder represents an industry that "has thrived on low-wage labor, illegal workers, and which has lobbied for greater access to foreign guest workers to maximize corporate profits."
FAIR president Dan Stein said in a statement Trump would need to reassure citizens that Puzder "will not prioritize the interests of cheap labor employers over the interests of American workers."
Trump announced on Thursday he had nominated Puzder to lead the Labor Department under his incoming administration. He praised the CKE executive for having "created and boosted the careers of thousands of Americans."
Puzder said in a statement he was "honored" by the selection.