By Ovunc Kutlu
NEW YORK (AA) – Lawmakers on Friday approved Gen. John Kelly as the new head of new U.S. homeland security.
In his new role, Kelly will be responsible for two pillars of Donald Trump's campaign proposals -- securing the country's borders and the potential construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
At his confirmation hearing, Kelly told senators he supports the idea of a wall, but cautioned manpower and technology are needed for the controversial plan.
The new secretary will also be responsible for immigration – a long debated issue in the U.S. and one on which Trump has promised to not only make it harder for certain groups, including Muslim and Latinos, to enter the country, but he has threated to deport as many as 3 million undocumented immigrants.
Kelly retired after serving 46 years in the Marines.
Before his retirement in February, he most recently served under President Barack Obama as commander of the Southern Command, responsible for military operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.