Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen drafted a resignation letter and nearly quit after President Donald Trump upbraided her during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, a senior administration official told POLITICO.
But by early evening, Nielsen, a protege of White House chief of staff John Kelly who was confirmed by the Senate a mere five months ago, appeared to be backing down from that threat, saying in a written statement that "the president is rightly frustrated" by continuing illegal immigration and "I share his frustration."
When Vice President Mike Pence heard that Nielsen was close to resigning, he summoned her to the White House Wednesday afternoon to urge her to stay, the official said, adding that she appeared to be in better spirits Thursday.
This would be a particularly awkward time for Nielsen to resign, because her deputy, Elaine Duke, retired only last month. The Trump White House has not yet nominated a replacement.
Trump and Nielsen have clashed for weeks over rising illegal immigration and what the president views as weak border enforcement, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Nielsen’s threat to resign was first reported by The New York Times.
Trump’s determination to reduce illegal immigration has placed an enormous burden on his Homeland Security secretary, who is tasked with enforcing border security but also with mitigating the threat of terrorism or cyberattacks, among other far-reaching duties.
The number of arrests on the U.S.-Mexico border dropped to the lowest level on record during Trump’s first year in office, a trend that the president touted proudly. But in recent months, border arrests – while still far below the levels of past decades – have increased steadily. Nielsen, who previously worked as Kelly’s deputy at DHS and the White House, receives the lion’s share of Trump’s blame for that reversal.
In her written statement, Nielsen didn’t deny that she nearly tendered her resignation.
“The President is rightly frustrated that existing loopholes and the lack of Congressional action have prevented this administration from fully securing the border and protecting the American people,” Nielsen said. “I share his frustration.”
But she also said that border security, while essential to the protection of a sovereign nation, is a complex issue. “I will continue to direct the department to do all we can to implement the president’s security-focused agenda,” she said.
DHS spokesperson Tyler Houlton denied that Nielsen drafted a resignation letter and nearly quit.
“The @nytimes article alleging that the Secretary drafted a resignation letter yesterday and was close to resigning is false,” Houlton wrote. “The Secretary is hard at work today on the President’s security-focused agenda and supporting the men and women of @DHSgov.”
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