Meet Kirstjen Nielsen, The Homeland Security Chief At The Center Of The Controversy Over Family Separations At The Us-mexico Bor

Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen has become the face of the Trump administration's controversial "zero tolerance" immigration policy, making her a divisive figure in the process. Nielsen was criticized after claiming the policy was not the catalyst for the separation of migrant families at the US-Mexico border, especially after she then defended the detainment of migrant children who'd been taken from their parents or guardians. According to Homeland Security numbers, roughly 2,000 migrant children have been separated from their families in a recent six week period. Nielsen has assured the public these children are being well taken care of, but that hasn't stopped protesters from targeting her over the Trump administration's immigration policies — and calling for her resignation. Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order he claimed would end the separation of children from their parents or guardians at the border. But immigration lawyers, among others, have criticized the language of the order and claim it still offers the federal government wiggle room to separate families. As the immigration crisis and the backlash surrounding it continue, here's a look at Nielsen's history and how she rose to become Homeland security chief and the poster-child of the zero-tolerance policy:Kirstjen Nielsen was born on May 14, 1972 in Colorado.