Kamala Harris Calls on Kirstjen Nielsen to Resign

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Monday called on Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to resign over the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy that separates families at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to the family separation policy, Harris called out Nielsen for Homeland Security’s response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and a directive that makes it easier to detain pregnant women. "During her time as the manager of the government’s third largest agency, the Department has implemented a policy that has separated thousands of children from their families, issued a directive to make it easier to detain pregnant women, tried to use DACA recipients as leverage to achieve the President’s anti-immigrant agenda, failed to address some of the agency’s most pressing management challenges and overseen the continued failed response to tragedy in Puerto Rico,” Harris said. “The government should be in the business of keeping families together, not tearing them apart. And the government should have a commitment to transparency and accountability. Under Secretary Nielsen's tenure, the Department of Homeland Security has a track record of neither. As a result, she must resign." Harris’ call for Nielsen’s resignation comes as many Democrats and Republicans increasingly express their outrage over the Trump administration's policy to separate minors from their parents. Since Harris' call, at least ten Democratic lawmakers including Senator Mazie Hirono (HI), as well as Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA) and Congressmen Ted Lieu (CA) and Donald Payne (NJ) have also called for her resignation. More here.