AUSTIN, Texas — The Department of Homeland Security's new leader is heading to Austin days after she was sworn in.

Kirstjen Nielsen took the place of retired Gen. John Kelly, who has been chosen to be President Trump's chief-of-staff, making her the second woman to lead the agency.

Secretary Nielsen is hitting the ground running to talk about one of the most contentious topics in Texas — Senate Bill 4, also known as the "so-called anti-sanctuary cities law."

“Criminal aliens have already shown disregard for our laws. Those are the people we’re focused on. Those are our priorities for removal,” said Nielsen. 

According to Homeland Security, Nielsen talked about how important it is for local law enforcement and governments to cooperate with federal agents on tackling illegal immigration.

“Instead of keeping dangerous criminals behind bars where they belong and turning them over to ICE for removal, sanctuary cities send criminals back out into our communities,” said Nielsen. 

SB4 has received a lot of push back from both federal and local levels, even after being signed into law last summer.

Several Texas cities, including Austin and San Antonio, sued the state over SB4 saying that it'll undermine cooperation between police and immigrants, making communities "less safe."

A federal judge in San Antonio first blocked the law from going into effect in August until an appellate court allowed parts of it to go into effect.

That includes requiring police officers to ask one's immigration status at a traffic stop. Since then, law enforcement agencies have made changes on their policies.