US: Immigration enforcement head out after just 2 weeks

ANKARA

With the Trump administration set to end within days, the acting director for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has resigned just two weeks after taking the post, according to a report.

Jenny Burke, the agency’s press secretary, confirmed Jonathan Fahey's resignation on Wednesday to The Hill news site but said nothing about his reasons.

Tony Pham, previous head of the agency, which has played a controversial role in outgoing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, also stepped down after a short tenure after starting in late August.

Fahey's departure came two days after acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told the department Monday he is also resigning despite his intention to serve until the end of the Trump administration.

Wolf said in a letter to colleagues he was leaving early due to "recent events" including court rulings challenging the validity of his role atop the department.

In the waning days of the Trump White House, a rising tide of defections has racked the administration, under fire after last week’s deadly storming of the US Capitol and Trump’s unprecedented refusal to admit defeat in last November’s elections.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos are among the senior members of the administration who have resigned in the wake of the Capitol riot.

President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in on Jan. 20, a week from today.