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Secretary Kelly tells DHS critics to ‘shut up,’ let agents do their jobs (oldie but goodie)
washingtontimes.com ^ | April 18. 2017 | Stephen Dinan

Posted on 07/29/2017 7:25:27 AM PDT by RoosterRedux

Bristling at the intense criticism his agents are getting over enforcing immigration laws, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly told the gripers Tuesday to “shut up,” and demanded they stop questioning the patriotism and professionalism of his workforce.

Mr. Kelly said he’s fed up with calls from lawmakers complaining that his officers are unfairly targeting airline passengers because of their race or religion, and with chiding from advocacy groups that are upset he’s unleashed his agents to enforce the laws on the books on everything from marijuana to immigration.

“If lawmakers do not like the laws they’ve passed and we are charged to enforce — then they should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines,” Mr. Kelly said in a speech Tuesday at George Washington University, where he laid out priorities for the sprawling department he took over three months ago.

Homeland Security has ranked, in recent years, at the back of the pack in terms of federal employee morale, and has struggled to find a unified mission among its various agencies, which handle everything from immigration to cybersecurity, and disaster response to tracking child pornographers. The department also oversees the Coast Guard and the Secret Service.

But it’s the immigration and border missions that have drawn the most focus in the early part of the Trump administration.

Mr. Kelly said the Obama administration “discouraged” Homeland Security employees from doing their jobs, tying federal workers’ hands with bureaucracy and “politically meddling.” He said he and President Trump have made a decision to free up agents to enforce the laws as written, and he said he and his department won’t apologize for that.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: johnkelly

1 posted on 07/29/2017 7:25:27 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

Loved this speech. Very sorry to lose him at DHS! I hope Pres Trump gives us somebody just as strong and focused on the mission.


2 posted on 07/29/2017 7:51:47 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (A year in Arizona... and I haven't burst into flames yet.)
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To: RoosterRedux

Too bad he wasn’t around earlier, we could have used him and listened when he told the same to odumbo our previous “Traitor In Chief”


3 posted on 07/29/2017 8:09:55 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: RoosterRedux
Wow! How refreshing for a cabinet member to tell it like it is and if you don't like it, shove it. My kind of guy.

He's right. If congress doesn't like him enforcing the existing laws that are on the books and that Obama ignored, then they should change them.

I think this guy will do a great job as Chief of Staff for Trump in the WH.

4 posted on 07/29/2017 10:43:45 AM PDT by HotHunt
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