"Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen abruptly resigned Sunday, as the president continues to fume over continued illegal border crossings. CBS News first reported Nielsen's impending departure, which Mr. Trump confirmed in a tweet after a 5 p.m. meeting with Nielsen at the White House.
Nielsen spoke out for the first time since announcing her resignation outside her house Monday afternoon, telling reporters there is a "humanitarian crisis" at the border and emphasizing the need to address that. Her resignation is effective Wednesday, although Nielsen didn't leave her home in Virginia until early Monday afternoon.
"I don't have any new announcements. I just want to thank the president again for the tremendous opportunity to serve this country. I'm forever grateful and proud of the men and women of DHS who work so hard every day to execute their missions and support the homeland," she told reporters outside her home on Monday, taking no questions. "As you know, DHS has a vast array of missions. I want to make sure that we execute them all with excellence through the transition. I share the president's goal of securing the border.”
