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U.S. NEWS Friday 27 January 2017
AP source: Border Patrol chief says he’s been forced out

ELLIOT SPAGAT at almost every turn.
ALICIA A. CALDWELL The union was incensed
Associated Press when Morgan, at a Sen-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ate hearing Dec. 1, said he
man charged with pro- supported a comprehen-
tecting America’s borders sive immigration overhaul,
was ousted Thursday, one which is often interpreted
day after President Donald to include a path to citi-
Trump announced ambi- zenship for people who are
tious plans to build a mas- in the country illegally. Mor-
sive wall at the Mexican gan clarified his remarks in
border and bolster the a note to Border Patrol staff
ranks of the Border Patrol. the following week, say-
Border Patrol Chief Mark ing he does not support a
Morgan said he was asked “blanket amnesty.”
to leave and decided to The union, the National
resign rather than fight Border Patrol Council, has
the request, according to had a strong relationship
a U.S. official with knowl- with Trump. It was so en-
edge of the brief video amored with his stance on
conference in which security that it took the un-
Morgan informed senior usual step of endorsing him
agents of the change. during the campaign. The
The official spoke on con- Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan testifies on Capitol Hill in endorsement was a lead-
dition of anonymity be- Washington. Morgan said he was asked to leave and decided to resign on Jan. 26, 2017, rather ership decision and not de-
cause the discussion was than fight the request, according to a U.S. official who was on brief video conference in which cided on by a unionwide
not intended to be made Morgan informed senior agents of the change. vote. When Trump visited
public. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) the Department of Home-
The forced resignation form during his presidential internal affairs department the leadership change and land Security on Wednes-
leaves Trump with a lead- campaign. Mexico has re- at the Border Patrol’s par- added: “I have nothing but day, he singled out Judd
ership gap but also gives peatedly said it won’t pay ent agency before head- good and positive things to while pointedly avoiding
him a chance to start fresh for a barrier, and Mexican ing the agency of roughly say about him.” mention of Morgan. Mor-
with a Border Patrol chief president Enrique Pena Ni- 20,000 agents. From the start, Morgan gan was not at the event.
of his own choosing. eto on Thursday cancelled Gil Kerlikowske, who hired clashed with the Border Despite pressure from the
Border security and a “big a meeting with Trump. Morgan when he was com- Patrol’s union, which had union, many agency of-
beautiful wall” paid for by Morgan was named to the missioner of U.S. Customs advocated for an insider ficials said Morgan ap-
the Mexican government post in June and took of- and Border Protection, said to lead the agency and peared to embrace the
were centerpieces of fice in October. The former he wasn’t surprised about sharply criticized Morgan job. q
Trump’s immigration plat- FBI agent briefly led the

Trump to launch probe into

unproven voter fraud claim

JONATHAN LEMIRE ... even, those registered to
ERIC TUCKER vote who are dead (and
Associated Press many for a long time).”
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Depending on results, the
spokesman said President Republican tweeted on his
Donald Trump will sign an sixth day in office, “we will
executive action to com- strengthen up voting pro-
mission an investigation cedures!”
into widespread voter He went further later,
fraud, raising the prospect claiming: “You have peo-
of a federal government ple registered in two states.
probe into a widely de- They’re registered in a New
bunked claim and spark- York and a New Jersey.
ing alarm among experts They vote twice.”
and Democrats. “There are millions of votes,
White House press secre- in my opinion,” Trump told
tary Sean Spicer said Thurs-
day that Trump would sign ABC. “Of those votes cast,
the order in the Oval Office none of them come to me.
but did not provide more None of them come to
details as to what it might me.”
entail. But House Oversight Com-
Trump had announced mittee Chairman Jason
in a pair of tweets early Chaffetz on Thursday broke
Wednesday that a “major with Trump, saying he sees
investigation” will look at no evidence of voter fraud
those registered to vote in the 2016 election and
in more than one state, says his committee won’t
“those who are illegal and investigate it.q