Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Trump Sacks Acting Attorney General for Refusing to Enforce Immigration Order

Trump Sacks Acting Attorney General for Refusing to Enforce Immigration Order

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, hours after she ordered the Justice Department not to defend his temporary ban on refugee and immigration that sparked nationwide protests and worldwide criticism.
"Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," said a White House statement.
Trump appointed Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates until his nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions, is confirmed by the Senate, local media reported.
Yates had been deputy attorney general before serving as acting chief of the Justice Department from Jan. 20, when Trump was sworn in.
"Consequently, for as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so," Yates said in a letter to the department on Monday.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts," she said.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful," she added. (Xinhua)