Kirstjen Nielsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirstjen Nielsen
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Official portrait, 2018
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| 6th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office December 6, 2017 – April 10, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Elaine Duke Claire Grady (acting) |
| Preceded by | John F. Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| White House Principal Deputy Chief of Staff | |
| In office September 6, 2017 – December 6, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Chief of Staff | John F. Kelly |
| Preceded by | Katie Walsh |
| Succeeded by | James W. Carroll |
| Chief of Staff to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office January 20, 2017 – July 31, 2017 |
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| Secretary | John F. Kelly |
| Preceded by | Paul Rosen |
| Succeeded by | Chad Wolf |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kirstjen Michele Nielsen
May 14, 1972 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS) University of Virginia (JD) |
Kirstjen Michele Nielsen (/ˈkɪərstən/; born May 14, 1972) is an American attorney. She served as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019. Before that, she was a top assistant to President Donald Trump in the White House. She also worked for John F. Kelly when he was the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Nielsen became Secretary of Homeland Security on December 5, 2017. She is known for her role in a policy that separated families at the U.S.–Mexico border. She left her position in April 2019.
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Early Life and Education
Kirstjen Michele Nielsen was born on May 14, 1972, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her parents, Phyllis Michele Nielsen and James McHenry Nielsen, were both doctors in the United States Army. Her father has Danish family roots, and her mother has Italian roots.
Kirstjen is the oldest of three children. She has a sister named Ashley and a brother named Fletcher. After she was born, her family moved from Colorado Springs to Clearwater, Florida.
After high school, Nielsen went to the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree there. Later, she attended the University of Virginia School of Law and received her law degree in 1999. She also studied Japanese studies at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan.
Early Career Steps
Nielsen worked for President George W. Bush. She was a special assistant to the president. She also held a senior role at the United States Homeland Security Council, focusing on preventing and responding to emergencies.
She also helped start and lead an office for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This office handled rules and government relations for the TSA.
After leaving the Bush administration in 2008, Nielsen started her own company called Sunesis Consulting. This company helped the government with policy, writing, and organization. For example, in 2013, her company received a contract to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Nielsen was also a part of important groups that studied risks and security. She was a member of the Resilience Task Force at George Washington University. She also served on an advisory board for the World Economic Forum that looked at global risks.
Working for the Trump Administration
Nielsen first worked as John F. Kelly's chief of staff at the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This was when Kelly became Secretary of Homeland Security in January 2017.
In September 2017, Kelly became the White House Chief of Staff. Nielsen then moved to the White House to work as his main deputy (assistant).
Secretary of Homeland Security
Becoming Secretary
On October 11, 2017, President Donald Trump chose Nielsen to be the new United States Secretary of Homeland Security. She would replace the acting secretary, Elaine Duke.
On December 5, 2017, the Senate voted to approve her for the job. The vote was 62 to 37. The next day, December 6, 2017, she officially became the Secretary of homeland security.
Her Time in Office
From March to December 2018, Nielsen was part of the Federal Commission on School Safety. This group worked on making schools safer.
In October 2018, Nielsen stated that China was becoming a big challenge for the U.S. She also confirmed that China was trying to influence U.S. elections.
Around the same time, President Trump asked for strong actions to stop migrants at the southern border. Nielsen was present at meetings where different ideas were discussed.
Family Separation Policy
On May 7, 2018, Secretary Nielsen put into effect a policy that separated parents and children. This happened when families were accused of crossing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally.
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At a meeting with lawmakers on May 15, 2018, Nielsen said she would make sure this policy was followed. She noted that similar separations happen in regular criminal courts.
In June 2018, Nielsen said that the government did not have a policy of separating migrant families. However, reports showed that about 2,000 children had been separated from their parents in six weeks. The DHS website also showed that a family separation policy was in place.
On June 18, 2018, Nielsen defended the policy. She said that the law did not allow children to be held with their parents in criminal detention centers. So, families had to be separated if the adults were being prosecuted.
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On June 20, 2018, President Trump signed an order to end the "zero-tolerance" policy that led to family separations. Nielsen was present at this signing.
In September 2018, it was reported that Nielsen had approved the family separation policy. This was after she received a memo that suggested the policy to discourage migration.
Nielsen stated that parents had a choice to take their children back. However, a 2021 investigation found that some parents were sent away without their children. This went against Nielsen's claims.
In October 2019, Nielsen said she did not regret enforcing the law.
During her time as Secretary, there were several events at the U.S.–Mexico border. These events involved law enforcement and migrants. They received international attention and led to criticism of the government's approach.
Her Resignation
In May 2018, news reports said that Nielsen thought about leaving her job. This was after President Trump criticized her for not securing the borders enough. There was also tension because she and other officials did not want to separate immigrant parents from their children.
Nielsen officially resigned as Secretary of homeland security on April 7, 2019. This happened after a meeting with President Trump. Two days before, the President had said he wanted a "tougher" approach to immigration.
After her resignation, some groups asked companies not to hire former Trump officials who were involved in the family separation policy.
After Her Time at DHS
In October 2019, the Trump Administration announced that Nielsen would join the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. This group advises on important national systems.
In January 2024, a quantum computing company called D-Wave Systems announced that Nielsen would join its board of directors.
See also
- List of female United States Cabinet members
