As expected, President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he intends to nominate former Marine Gen. John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security, adding a border security hawk to his cabinet.
“Gen. John Kelly’s decades of military service and deep commitment to fighting the threat of terrorism inside our borders makes him the ideal choice to serve as our Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,” Trump said in a statement. “He is the right person to spearhead the urgent mission of stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders, streamlining TSA and improving coordination between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies.”
Kelly retired from the Marine Corps last January after serving more than three years as commander of United States Southern Command, which provides contingency planning, operations and security cooperation for an area that includes Central American, South America, and the Caribbean.
Kelly understands the need for partnerships with America’s southern neighbors and among the various components of DHS charged with stemming the tide of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S., as well as working with the Defense Department, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement organizations. He has also warned that the same routes used by human smugglers could be used by terrorists to enter the U.S.
“The American people voted in this election to stop terrorism, take back sovereignty at our borders, and put a stop to political correctness that for too long has dictated our approach to national security,” Kelly said in a statement released through Trump’s transition team. “I will tackle those issues with a seriousness of purpose and a deep respect for our laws and Constitution.”
Trump, in his statement, also said that “With Gen. Kelly at the helm of DHS, the American people will have a leader committed to our safety as well as on who will work hand-in-hand with America’s rank-and-file TSA, ICE and Border Patrol officers.”
Kelly’s nomination requires Senate confirmation.