Kirsten Nielsen was sworn in Wednesday as Secretary of Homeland Security.
“I am humbled by the trust placed in me to lead our Department,” Nielsen said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing this Administration’s work to raise the standards for the security of our homeland in all areas – including securing our borders, protecting Americans from terrorist threats, and securing our cyber networks.”
Nielsen, 45, is the first former Homeland Security official to head the agency. She also served as Trump’s deputy chief of staff prior to her appointment. White House chief of staff John Kelly left his post atop Homeland Security in July to serve as Trump’s chief of staff, and Elaine Duke has since served as acting secretary.
(DHS Official Photo/ Jetta Disco)
Some immigration hawks have criticized Nielsen’s stance on immigration. She told senators that the U.S. owes illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a “permanent solution.”
However, President Trump himself has adopted supporting a legislative solution for the so-called “Dreamers.”