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Napolitano resigning as head of U.S. Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, July 12 (KUNA) -- The White House announced on Friday that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will resign her post, and President Barack Obama thanked her for "outstanding work on behalf of the American people over the last four years." "At the Department of Homeland Security, Janet's portfolio has included some of the toughest challenges facing our country," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "She has worked around the clock to respond to natural disasters, from the Joplin (Missouri) tornado to Hurricane Sandy (in the U.S. Northeast), helping Americans recover and rebuild." The former governor of Arizona "has led my administration's effort to secure our borders, deploying a historic number of resources while also taking steps to make our immigration system fairer and more consistent with our values," the President said. "And the American people are safer and more secure thanks to Janet's leadership in protecting our homeland against terrorist attacks." As she begins a new chapter "in a remarkable career of public service, I wish her the best of luck," Obama said. (end) rm.ajs KUNA 121823 Jul 13NNNN