Kirstjen Nielsen

Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security secretary who has become a flashpoint in the family separations at the border, was driven out of a Mexican restaurant by protesters who disrupted her dinner.

You can watch the video, which was taken on June 19, 2018, here:

Protesters expressed pride in themselves on social media.

The Monopoly Man – Amanda Werner@wamandajd

We did it!

Mags, in DC@peg_mclaugh

Replying to @peg_mclaugh

Here is the video from Facebook live! Sorry for the quality it’s very dark in there https://www.facebook.com/371367976395867/posts/803611493171511/ …

8:17 PM – Jun 19, 2018

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The Monopoly Man – Amanda Werner@wamandajd

I was very prepared to be arrested. This cannot continue.

M.Vasquez@MVasquezNYC

Replying to @wamandajd

Whoah my friend.
Good ur OK.

9:09 PM – Jun 19, 2018

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The secretary has been increasingly in the middle of the firestorm over the family separations.

Nielsen, Who Was a Controversial Figure in the White House, Made Controversial Remarks on the Family Separation Debate

CNN✔@CNN

“We have to do our job. We will not apologize for doing our job,” says Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on separating families at the border. “This administration has a simple message: If you cross the border illegally, we will prosecute you.” https://cnn.it/2liD9AV 

10:31 AM – Jun 18, 2018

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Kirstjen Nielsen has made a series of comments that have made her a controversial figure in the family separation debate. The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy at the border has led to children being separated from their parents as their parents are prosecuted for unlawfully entering the country.

Here are some of Nielsen’s comments on Twitter:

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

17 Jun

Replying to @SecNielsen

For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

DHS takes very seriously its duty to protect minors in our temporary custody from gangs, traffickers, criminals and abuse.

5:53 PM – Jun 17, 2018

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Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

17 Jun

Replying to @SecNielsen

You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.

5:52 PM – Jun 17, 2018

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Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

17 Jun

This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period.

5:52 PM – Jun 17, 2018

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Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

17 Jun

This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry.

5:51 PM – Jun 17, 2018

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Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen✔@SecNielsen

This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.

5:51 PM – Jun 17, 2018

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Texas Monthly has posted one of the most detailed accounts of first-hand stories of what’s happening at the border. You can read it here.

A two-year-old Honduran asylum seeker cries as her mother is searched and detained near the U.S.-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The asylum seekers had rafted across the Rio Grande from Mexico and were detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents before being sent to a processing center for possible separation. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is executing the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy towards undocumented immigrants. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic and gang violence in immigrants’ country of origin would no longer qualify them for political asylum status.

In the White House, Nielsen was a controversial figure even before she was appointed Homeland Security Secretary. She previously worked in the administration of President George W. Bush “as special assistant to the president and as senior director for prevention, preparedness and response at the White House Homeland Security Council” as well as running the “Transportation Security Administration’s offices of legislative policy and government affairs,” Newsweek reports.

She rankled some with what was perceived as a “rigid style” when she followed John Kelly to the White House as his deputy chief of staff, Politico reported. Her demeanor led some Trump loyalists to call her Nurse Ratched, the nurse in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, according to Politico.

A government report lists Nielsen’s previous positions, stocks, and salary. She listed the following positions outside government for 2016 and 2017:

Sunesis Consulting, LLC Alexandria,Virginia LLC President 4/2012 1/2017

Res/CON, Greater New Orleans Inc. New Orleans, Louisiana Non-profit Advisory Board Member for Global Resiliance Summit 4/2016 1/2017

Trump for America, Inc. Colonia, New Jersey Non-Profit Volunteer 11/2016 1/2017

World Economic Forum Geneva, Switzerland, Outside U.S. Non-Profit Global Risks Report Advisory Board Member 9/2016 1/2017

Cyber Institute, National Cybersecurity Center Colorado Springs, Colorado Non-Profit Advisory Board Member 6/2016 1/2017

Center for Naval Analyses Safety and Security Advisory Board Arlington, Virginia Non-Profit Advisory Board Member 4/2014 1/2016

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Brussels, Outside U.S. Intergovernmen tal alliance Civil Expert 5/2015 1/2017

World Economic Forum Geneva, Switzerland, Outside U.S. Non-Profit Chair, World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Risks and
Resilience 6/2014 10/2016

George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia University/College Senior Fellow, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security 4/2014 1/2017