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Sin. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Monday that he was concerned about reports of imminent departures from the White House after the latest reform of the most important positions in immigration.
During an interview on Fox News on Monday night, Grassley said he was caught unawares by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who had resigned, while understanding that President Trump had the prerogative to decide who he wanted to lead the department.
"I'm very surprised, but the president has the right to have who he wants," said Grassley, "and the person acting is very skilled."
Trump announced the departure of Nielsen on Twitter on Sunday after a stormy meeting on the border and immigration. But Grassley said he is more concerned by reports that other people may be on the cutting board, according to the Washington Post.
L. Francis Cissna, Chief of Citizenship and Immigration, and John Mitnick, Nielsen's senior manager, could be deported, and Grassley said it made him "very, very concerned."
"First, they are good officials," he said. "Secondly, in addition to the personal connection I have with them and their qualifications, they form the intellectual basis of what the President wants to accomplish in the field of immigration."
When Grassley was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he and Cissna worked closely together.
"The president must have some stability and in particular with the number one problem he's been doing for his campaign, throughout his two and a half years of presidency," Grassley said, noting that he was in contact with Trump's interim chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, about the issue on Monday.
The senior senator from Iowa also hit Stephen Miller, one of Trump's key political advisers and an immigration enthusiast who would have played a big role in orchestrating the deportation of Nielsen.
"I think it would be difficult for him to demonstrate that he has accomplished something for the president," Grassley said.
The reshuffle also includes the upcoming departure of Randolph "Tex" Alles, director of secret services, whom Trump would have called "Dumbo" behind his back. James Murray was chosen to replace Alles and Nielsen should be replaced by Kevin McAleenan.
The departures come a few days after the appointment of Ron Vitiello, who was to lead the implementation of immigration and customs legislation, was suddenly ruled out.
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