US Homeland Security chief Nielsen resigns after border visit with President Trump

After months of rumors about her imminent departure, President Donald Trump has confirmed that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will be “leaving her position.” After receiving her resignation letter on Sunday, Trump thanked Nielsen for “her  service” and announced the appointment of current Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, Kevin McAleenan, to lead the department. Nielsen, who had been appointed to lead Trump’s overhaul of border security in 2017, was known to be at odds with the president and with his national security adviser John Bolton, over her approach to illegal immigration.