The United States President Donald Trump fired the country's acting Attorney General, Sally Yates for daring to defy his controversial executive order that restricts immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Yates, who was a holdover from the Obama administration, ordered Justice Department attorneys on Monday not to defend in court Trump's directive, reported Reuters. She believed that it is not right for the Justice Department to defend the order as the institution's sole purpose is to provide justice and uphold the truth.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," wrote Yates in a letter to Justice Department lawyers, according to The New York Times.
A post was put up on Facebook from Donald Trump's handle saying that Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." The post also read: "Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."
Yates is being replaced by Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and will be acting as the attorney general until Jeff Sessions, Trump's choice for the post, is ratified by the senate. In an interview with the Washington Post, Bonete said he would enforce the immigration law.
Meanwhile, the new executive order has thrown thousands of refugees and immigrants into limbo. People ran helter-skelter at several airports and those included even legal residents of the United States and travellers with valid visas. Immigration lawyers and advocates reacted furiously to the order and vowed to file lawsuits.
While several officers at airports around the world helped marooned travellers find a way back home, some immigration and customs officials are still struggling to interpret the new rules.
