On Monday evening, the White House issued an official statement from the Office of the Press Secretary indicating that Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General, has been fired for her refusal to comply with President Trump's recent executive order calling for a temporary ban on refugees and residents of seven Middle Eastern and African countries from entering the United States. As of Monday evening, Dana Boente has been appointed the administration's interim Attorney General.
White House claims Yates was weak on borders
The White House press release points out that Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is "weak on borders" and "very weak on illegal immigration," and goes on to state that it's time to get serious about the border by employing tougher vetting procedures from individuals traveling from the seven nations which the Trump administration has identified as hotbeds of terrorist activity.
Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, will fill the AG role until the expected confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions.
Yates stated on Monday that she will not comply with President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending immigration from terrorist-linked countries. Three hours later, the White House released its announcement about Yates' dismissal. Sally Yates was Deputy Attorney General during the Obama administration and was elevated to the acting AG role after Loretta Lynch resigned from the position on Inauguration Day.
Trump's ban approved by Department of Justice
According to USA Today, Trump's executive order was reviewed by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel before it was issued Friday.
The OLC approved the order, which has been met with harsh criticism since it was issued.
Immigration advocacy groups raced to file lawsuits over the president's executive order; On Saturday a New York federal judge issued an emergency stay, preventing the government from deporting violators of the travel ban, while a separate lawsuit was filed on Monday in Seattle claiming that Trump's order is discriminatory. However, a recent survey by Rasmussen Research shows that 57 percent of Americans support the executive order.
