Tri-Service

Trump Picks Retired General John Kelly As Homeland Security Head

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that retired General John Kelly, a 45-year military veteran, is his choice to lead the Department Of Homeland Security.

The Cabinet department has responsibilities similar to those of Britain's Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Attorney General's Office and Department for Communities and Local Government.

Mr Trump's transition team said in a statement that Kelly would "spearhead the urgent mission of stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders", as well as improving efficiency in the Transportation Security Administration and improving links between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, according to Reuters news agency.

The 66-year-old battle-hardened Marine commander told Fox News last week that he has "been asked and would consider it an honour" to lead the agency set up to protect the US homeland after the September 11, 2001 attacks, if confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

It secures borders against illegal immigration, protects the President, responds to natural disasters, and coordinates intelligence and counterterrorism information.

It comprises over 240,000 employees, including the Secret Service and Border Patrol agents, as well as the agency that allows refugees to settle in the United States.

Four-star General Kelly served in Iraq several times, and in 2003 was the first Marine in over 50 years to be promoted to brigadier general while in a combat zone.

In 2010, his son, Marine 1st Lieutenant Robert M. Kelly, was killed fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan.

Kelly was responsible for American military activities and relationships in Latin America and the Caribbean during his time as head of Southern Command.

He was a supporter of keeping open the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, saying "there are no innocent men down there" in a January interview with the Military Times newspaper, whilst he questioned the Pentagon's decision to allow women to serve in combat.

It's been suggested that Mr Trump is looking at generals filling important roles because of a lack of a relationship with Republican establishment figures.

The Republican president-elect is also nominating retired General James Mattis to lead the Pentagon and retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn to be his national security adviser, while he's said to be considering former Army General David Petraeus for Secretary of State.

Former White House and State Department official P.J. Crowley, author of "Red Line," a book on U.S. foreign policy, said:

"He never served in government, so until the campaign, he didn't have an established bench.

"He's forming a pickup team on the fly. On an individual basis, they have a lot of international operational experience but far less domestic political experience. How well they will gel together remains to be seen."

The National Border Patrol Council, an early Trump backer, said Kelly had "stellar credentials" despite his lack of immigration experience, pointing to his popularity with troops as a good omen in tackling morale problems at the Department of Homeland Security.

It added, however, that "we believe no other Cabinet-level nominee will be under more pressure to produce."