Congressional DHS demands Nielsen "really fears for our democracy"

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said on Tuesday that congressional opposition to security measures at the border of her department was making her "fearful for our democracy," insisting that Congress members focus on amending the law instead of asking DHS to change its application.

"You know, I've said it before, but I really fear for our democracy when the body that creates the laws says to whoever enforces the law, do not apply it," Nielsen said. in an interview with Fox News. "If they do not like the law, they should change it, but the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security have taken an oath to protect communities to protect the homeland and uphold the law." adopted by the Congress. "

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The US Department of Homeland Security has been heavily criticized in recent months for implementing President Donald Trump's radical immigration policies, including separating children from their parents who illegally brought them into the United States. -United.

Trump, backed by Nielsen and other DHS members, insisted that there was a humanitarian and national security crisis at the southern border of the country, prompting him to declare a national emergency to secure the financing of its long-promised border wall without Congressional appropriations. A resolution rescinding this declaration has already been passed by the House and should be passed Thursday by the Senate with the support of both parties. Trump threatened to veto the measure.

The secretary insisted that the emergency declaration was within the limits of Trump's constitutional authority and criticized lawmakers who expressed uneasiness about the president making a final round in Congress in order to build his border wall.

Asked in an interview on Fox News about Trump's administration criticism "mistaken" about his approach to border security, Nielsen said that DHS "is a law enforcement agency. – we therefore apply the law ".

Nielsen also argued that there was a "misunderstanding" between congressional members who criticized the US Customs and Border Protection, claiming that the agency had been unfairly politicized in recent years for applying the same political than ever.

"Many of the policies and ways that CBP has been protecting our community for decades are the same – they are suddenly political and partisan," she said.