US Secret Service director out amid shakeup

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph Alles is leaving his post, the White House confirmed Monday.

Alles, a retired Marine Corps major general, was appointed to the post by President Donald Trump two years ago. He was the first director in modern history to helm the agency who did not come from its ranks.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Alles "has done a great job at the agency over the last two years, and the President is thankful for his over 40 years of service to the country."

Trump plans to appoint James Murray, a career secret service employee, to take over after Alles exits in the coming days, according to the White House.

Alles' announced departure comes one day after outgoing Department of Homeland Security Director Kirstjen Nielsen -- his former boss -- resigned from her position Sunday after a meeting at the White House.

Trump has reportedly been seeking for months to have the administration reimpose its policy of separating families who illegally cross the U.S. border.

Nielsen resisted the president's push, telling him that reinstating the large-scale separation policy would violate court orders, but the president has been undeterred, according to NBC News.

Trump has publicly fumed in recent weeks against undocumented migration, telling asylum seeker to turn around because, he said, the U.S. is "full." He has signaled he wants to take the U.S. in a "tougher" direction on immigration.

Kevin McAleenan, the current Customs and Border Protection chief will take over for Nielsen after she leaves office Wednesday.

She said she agreed to stay on until that day "to assist with an orderly transition and ensure that key [agency] missions are not impacted."

Other individuals at the upper echelons of the Department of Homeland Security are expected to leave their posts in the coming weeks, according to reports.