Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for Refusing to Defend Immigration Order

— -- The acting U.S. Attorney General, Sally Yates, was fired Monday night hours after she refused to defend President Trump's executive order regarding immigration because she is not convinced it is "lawful," according to a letter.

In a statement, the White House said Yates "betrayed the Department of Justice" and was "weak on borders" and said she was being replaced by Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Boente moved quickly to rescind the guidance in Yates' letter, noting in a statement released Monday night that the department's Office of Legal Counsel "found the Executive Order both lawful on its face and properly drafted." Boente then directed staffers "to do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President."

"Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," the White House statement added. "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."