DHS nominee doesn’t fully back wall
Trump’s pick grilled on security, immigration
WASHINGTON – President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that she does not support building a wall along the entire length of the U.S. southern border.
Kirstjen Nielsen, an attorney with cyber and homeland security experience, told senators at her confirmation hearing that the border should be fortified instead with a mix of personnel, technology and physical fencing.
Her stand mirrors that of former DHS secretary — and her boss — White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Nielsen was Kelly’s chief of staff at the DHS and followed him to the White House, where she is principal deputy chief of staff.
“There is no need for a wall from sea to shining sea,” she said.
Nielsen worked at the Transportation Security Administration and on the Homeland Security Council under President George W. Bush.
If confirmed, she would oversee about 240,000 employees at Customs and Border Protection, the TSA, Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among other agencies.
Senators grilled her about climate change, port security, deferring deportation for children brought to the country illegally and combating extremism. Nielsen vowed to closely monitor and strengthen department programs designed to counter extremism. She said undocumented children brought to the USA illegally would not be a priority for deportation if she was confirmed; criminals would be.
On climate change, Nielsen declined to say whether she believes humans caused it. “I do absolutely believe that the climate is changing,” she said. “I’m not prepared to determine causation.”