Following her resignation as the Secretary for Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen opened up today about the pain of bidding farewell to her DHS family.

“I feel like I’ve just been ripped away from them.”

Nielsen says at least she knew this was coming, given the tensions between her and the White House in recent months.

“Can you imagine if I just found out in the moment that we were to be separated? How awful that would have been!”

Though this marks the end of her working relationship with her former DHS colleagues, she says at least she still knows where they are and how to get in touch.

“I can always track them down and arrange to meet up for a drink – so that’s nice.”