US President Donald Trump today fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for betraying the Department of Justice after she refused to defend his executive order that denies entry to all refugees as well as citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations.
"(Yates) has betrayed the Department of Justice," the White House statement said.
Trump did not call Yates to dismiss her, she was informed by hand-delivered letter.
The dramatic move came soon after Yates told Justice Department lawyers not to make legal arguments defending Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," Yates wrote in a letter to Justice Department lawyers.
The White House said, "Ms Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."
"It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country," it said.
Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee program.
The White House named Dana Boente as the new Acting Attorney General till time its nominee Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the US Senate.
"I am honoured to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed. I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected," Boente said.
Senator Patrick leahy said Yates was fired for recognising that her oath is to the Constitution and not to President Trump.
"His accusation that she has 'betrayed the Department of Justice' is wrong and it is dangerous," he alleged.
"President Trump has now put his cabinet on notice: if you adhere to your oath of office to defend the Constitution, you risk your job," he noted.
"Equally troubling is that his nominee for Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, has shown no indication that he has the independence to put the Constitution before the President," leahy said.
Senate Minority leader Charles E Schumer said the firing of Yates underscores how important it is to have an Attorney General who will stand up to the White House when they are violating the law.
"Many people have doubts about whether Jeff Sessions can be that person, and the full Senate and the American people should at the very least know exactly how independent he plans to be before voting on him," he said.
"The Attorney General should be loyal and pledge fidelity to the law, not the White House. The fact that this administration doesn’t understand that is chilling," Schumer said.
Nancy Pelosi said the Acting Attorney General was fired for upholding the Constitution of the United States.
"What the Trump Administration calls betrayal is an American with the courage to say that the law and the Constitution come first," she said.
"President Trump's executive order violates the Constitution, dishonors our values, and weakens the security of the United States. National security experts are warning that the President's ban will make it harder, not easier to defeat terror," Pelosi said.