WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen left her post on Sunday, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter.
"Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service," Trump said on Twitter.
Trump named current US Customs and Border Protection commissioner Kevein McAleenan as acting secretary of the Homeland Security.
"I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security," Trump stated. "I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!"
Nielsen officially announced her resignation on late Sunday night in her Twitter account.
"To the brave and dedicated men and women of the DHS [Department of Homeland Security], I submitted my resignation to the President this evening,” Nielsen said.
She also announced that she would stay in office until Wednesday, April 10, to assist with the transition of her duties within the department.
"I have agreed to stay on as Secretary through Wednesday, April 10th to assist with an orderly transition and ensure that key DHS missions are not impacted," Nielsen tweeted.
"Our missions as a Department are vast and have never been more vital," Nielsen stated in her Twitter account addressing the staff of the US Homeland Security Department. "You are in the arena - keep up the good fight. Thank you for your sacrifices and those of your families."
According to Axios.com news website, "Trump has wanted Nielsen gone for months because he believes she's ‘weak’ on immigration," including on the issues of the construction of the wall at the US border with Mexico and the deportation of illegal immigrants.
On February 15, Trump signed a declaration to impose the state of emergency in the country’s southern border, which allowed him to access additional funds for the Mexico border wall project. In all, this declaration paves the way for the US president to acquire about USD8 billion for the construction of the 376.5-kilometer long (234 miles) wall on the border with its southern neighbor. (TASS)
