U.S. President Donald Trump has sacked the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and has replaced her with Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner.
Her sack has brought to an end her turbulent tenure in charge of the border security agency that had at times made her the target of Trump’s criticism.
Trump wrote on his twitter handle: “Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service….
“….I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for @DHSgov. I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!”.
Nielsen was long expected to be fired as Trump’s dissatisfaction grew over an increase of migrants illegally entering the United States at the southwestern border.
Last May — six months after taking over at the department — The New York Times reported that Ms Nielsen had drafted a resignation letter after being berated for what the president called her failure to help stop illegal immigration.
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