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Trump Is Considering Firing Kirstjen Nielsen From Homeland Security Trump Considers Staff Shake-Up in White House and Homeland Security
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump is considering firing Kirstjen Nielsen, the embattled secretary of Homeland Security who has long been a target of the president’s displeasure, as part of a wave of cabinet and staff changes expected to come after the midterm elections, three people close to the president said on Tuesday.WASHINGTON — President Trump is considering firing Kirstjen Nielsen, the embattled secretary of Homeland Security who has long been a target of the president’s displeasure, as part of a wave of cabinet and staff changes expected to come after the midterm elections, three people close to the president said on Tuesday.
Inside the White House, removing Ms. Nielsen is also seen as a way for Mr. Trump to push out the White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, without directly firing him. Nick Ayers, the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, has long been seen as a prospective replacement for Mr. Kelly if he leaves. Mr. Ayers did not travel as originally planned with Mr. Pence on his official trip to Asia this week, two White House officials said.Inside the White House, removing Ms. Nielsen is also seen as a way for Mr. Trump to push out the White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, without directly firing him. Nick Ayers, the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, has long been seen as a prospective replacement for Mr. Kelly if he leaves. Mr. Ayers did not travel as originally planned with Mr. Pence on his official trip to Asia this week, two White House officials said.
Mr. Trump hates interpersonal confrontation, and he often lets aides he does not like remain in their positions for uncomfortably long times, meaning a change could be weeks away, the people close to the president cautioned.Mr. Trump hates interpersonal confrontation, and he often lets aides he does not like remain in their positions for uncomfortably long times, meaning a change could be weeks away, the people close to the president cautioned.
But Ms. Nielsen has been a target of his ire for many months, primarily over his administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy and his belief that she was not implementing it effectively.But Ms. Nielsen has been a target of his ire for many months, primarily over his administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy and his belief that she was not implementing it effectively.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Kelly arrived at a plan earlier this year for Mr. Kelly to remain in his job through the 2020 election, but the president has privately told allies that he would not bet on his chief of staff staying that long.Mr. Trump and Mr. Kelly arrived at a plan earlier this year for Mr. Kelly to remain in his job through the 2020 election, but the president has privately told allies that he would not bet on his chief of staff staying that long.
The Washington Post first reported that Ms. Nielsen may depart soon. A White House spokesman did not respond to an email seeking comment.The Washington Post first reported that Ms. Nielsen may depart soon. A White House spokesman did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Mr. Kelly has often defended Ms. Nielsen to the president, and protected her from other cabinet members when she was under attack from them.Mr. Kelly has often defended Ms. Nielsen to the president, and protected her from other cabinet members when she was under attack from them.
At a cabinet meeting several months ago, tension flared between Mr. Kelly and Jeff Sessions, who was then the attorney general and whose department also has purview over immigration issues, about the number of illegal crossings at the southern border. The figure had remained higher than the president wanted.At a cabinet meeting several months ago, tension flared between Mr. Kelly and Jeff Sessions, who was then the attorney general and whose department also has purview over immigration issues, about the number of illegal crossings at the southern border. The figure had remained higher than the president wanted.
Mr. Sessions was fired by Mr. Trump last week.Mr. Sessions was fired by Mr. Trump last week.
Among some of Mr. Trump’s allies, his views and treatment of Ms. Nielsen have been characterized as unfair. The president has derided her previous service in the George W. Bush administration and questioned her loyalty. He also helped ensure that she was the face of the deeply controversial border separation policy involving taking children from their parents.Among some of Mr. Trump’s allies, his views and treatment of Ms. Nielsen have been characterized as unfair. The president has derided her previous service in the George W. Bush administration and questioned her loyalty. He also helped ensure that she was the face of the deeply controversial border separation policy involving taking children from their parents.
Inside the Department of Homeland Security some employees said they had believed for months that Ms. Nielsen was on her way out.Inside the Department of Homeland Security some employees said they had believed for months that Ms. Nielsen was on her way out.
The employees say Ms. Nielsen has struggled to explain to the White House the complexities of border security. One employee said Ms. Nielsen has even pushed back on many measures suggested by immigration hard-liners, though she has forged ahead with efforts to limit immigration using other controversial policies. The most recent effort is a proposal that would deny asylum to anyone who arrived in the country illegally.The employees say Ms. Nielsen has struggled to explain to the White House the complexities of border security. One employee said Ms. Nielsen has even pushed back on many measures suggested by immigration hard-liners, though she has forged ahead with efforts to limit immigration using other controversial policies. The most recent effort is a proposal that would deny asylum to anyone who arrived in the country illegally.
The employees believe Ms. Nielsen’s fate was sealed with the release of the agency’s border enforcement data over the last two months.The employees believe Ms. Nielsen’s fate was sealed with the release of the agency’s border enforcement data over the last two months.
Last week, the Customs and Border Protection released data showing a one-month record 23,121 people traveling in families who either surrendered or were arrested by Border Patrol agents. Families increasingly make up the largest portion of those caught at the border. In September, nearly 16,658 people in families were apprehended at the border, prompting the Trump administration to label the increase in migrants a crisis and national security threat.Last week, the Customs and Border Protection released data showing a one-month record 23,121 people traveling in families who either surrendered or were arrested by Border Patrol agents. Families increasingly make up the largest portion of those caught at the border. In September, nearly 16,658 people in families were apprehended at the border, prompting the Trump administration to label the increase in migrants a crisis and national security threat.
Although the overall number of people apprehended at the border remains at lows, the Trump administration has grown increasingly frustrated as the number of families making the trek to the United States has grown.Although the overall number of people apprehended at the border remains at lows, the Trump administration has grown increasingly frustrated as the number of families making the trek to the United States has grown.
The deputy secretary job at the agency has remained unfilled since Elaine Duke left in April. The White House has not nominated a replacement.The deputy secretary job at the agency has remained unfilled since Elaine Duke left in April. The White House has not nominated a replacement.