Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 11 June 2019

Ex-Virginia attorney general named to U.S. immigration post

By COLLEEN LONG and LISA who Trump believed wasn’t
MASCARO doing enough. Cissna said
Associated Press he worked “passionately.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — An The departure last month
outspoken supporter of came amid a White House-
President Donald Trump’s orchestrated shakeup at
hardline immigration poli- Homeland Security, includ-
cies has been named act- ing the April resignation of
ing director of the agency Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
that manages legal immi- There are more than a
gration, despite deep op- dozen vacancies of top
position from key Senate leadership positions at the
Republicans. sprawling, 240,000-employ-
Ken Cuccinelli will oversee ee department.
U.S. Citizenship and Immi- This comes as the Trump
gration Services starting administration is struggling
Monday, Department of with a migrant surge at
Homeland Security Acting the southern border that is
Secretary Kevin McAleen- straining federal resources.
an announced. Cuccinelli’s name has
But it’s unclear if Trump will been mentioned for
nominate Cuccinelli for months to become part
the permanent position. of the administration, in-
That would require Senate cluding as possible Home-
confirmation, which could land Security secretary or
be difficult. Instead, Trump as an immigration czar .
may simply opt to keep There was debate within
Cuccinelli in the acting In this Nov. 14, 2018, file photo, from left, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, former Virginia Attorney General the Trump administration
position, a work-around to Ken Cuccinelli, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, laugh before President Donald Trump arrived to over whether that czar’s
rules governing vacancies announce his support for the first major rewrite of the nation’s criminal justice sentencing laws at position would be housed
that sparked Senate objec- White House in Washington. within the White House or
tions. Associated Press within Homeland Security,
“I don’t think that’s a wise the U.S. illegally. to secure a rules vote that opposition. a trickier spot where the
move,” said Sen. Marco It’s not just Cuccinelli’s would have complicated Rep. Bennie Thompson, D- appointment could conflict
Rubio, R-Fla., who warned views on immigration that Trump’s nomination as GOP Miss., the chairman of the with top leaders in Senate-
bypassing the confirmation would generate unease candidate for president. House Homeland Security confirmed positions.
process could spill over into among senators. One Republican familiar Committee, called Cuc- “Our nation has the most
other nominations. As the former head of with the situation said the cinelli “an anti-immigrant generous legal immigration
The second-ranking Re- the Senate Conservatives White House has been fringe figure that has no system in the world and we
publican, Sen. John Thune Fund, Cuccinelli has been made aware that Cucci- business” helming a key must zealously safeguard its
of South Dakota, said the highly critical of Senate nelli would have a difficult component of the nation’s promise for those who law-
preference would be for GOP leadership, including time winning confirmation immigration system. fully come here,” he said in
Trump to submit the nomi- once advocating for the in the Senate, where Re- “Besides being a right-wing a statement Monday.
nation, “and go through removal of Senate Majority publicans have the major- commentator, Cuccinelli is The action comes as the
the process and have a Leader Mitch McConnell ity. completely unqualified to department is calling on
confirmation hearing and and his entire leadership The person, granted ano- the lead USCIS,” he said in Congress to provide $4.5
an opportunity for a vote.” team. nymity to discuss private a statement. billion more in aid for the
Said Thune: “We think that’s The group backed conser- conversations, said confir- “With both Democrats and border crisis and Trump
the way really if you want vative candidates for Sen- mation would be a tough Republicans opposing him, eased off his threat to im-
to solidify people in these ate and primary challeng- lift. there is no reason for Presi- pose tariffs on Mexico un-
positions. But they’ve cho- ers for incumbent Republi- Facing a potential confir- dent Trump to instill some- less it helps stem the num-
sen a different path.” cans, putting it at odds with mation battle, it appears one who has no chance of ber of Central American
Cuccinelli is a former Vir- the party’s chosen candi- the Trump administration Senate confirmation.” migrants flowing over the
ginia attorney general who dates. His group and oth- placed Cuccinelli in a new Citizenship and Immigra- border.
ran for governor of Virginia, ers complained McConnell position that could be a tion Services is the agency Mexico agreed to greatly
but lost to Democrat Terry was insufficiently delivering way to work around fed- responsible for legal immi- ramp up sending asylum
McAuliffe in 2013. on conservative priorities, eral regulations that limit gration, including benefits seekers back over the bor-
He has in the past advo- including immigration. how long people can serve and visas. der to wait out their cases
cated for denying citizen- And he helped lead the without Senate confirma- The position opened after and will send National
ship to the American-born failed 2016 effort by Trump’s tion, one legal expert said. Trump forced the resigna- Guard troops to its southern
children of parents living in chief rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, Democrats signaled strong tion of Lee Francis Cissna , border.q