Miller Collaborates with GOP Senators to Counter Democratic Moves Against ICE
Stephen Miller is actively collaborating with allies of President Donald Trump in the Senate to counter Democratic initiatives aimed at restricting the powers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported recently.
Republican senators express a firm conviction that immigration remains a pivotal issue for Trump, asserting that yielding to Democratic demands would be a strategic error.
“We’re now going on offense,” stated South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, emphasizing a proactive approach.
“President Trump dispatched [border czar] Tom Homan to Minnesota to cool tensions,” he continued. “That was a wise move. However, the notion that we will forsake President Trump’s immigration campaign promises is simply incorrect.”
Next week, Graham plans to introduce a vote on his proposal, which seeks to impose criminal penalties on local and state officials who refuse to assist federal immigration agents.
“Stephen Miller played a key role in orchestrating that alongside me,” Graham noted.
Miller, at 40 years old, serves as Trump’s deputy chief of staff and wields significant influence within the White House. He has been instrumental in shaping the administration's immigration policies, including the controversial deportation strategy involving a prison in El Salvador.
A spokesperson from the White House did not respond promptly to inquiries regarding Miller’s involvement.
The Republican effort to regain control over the immigration narrative comes at a crucial time for the administration, as funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to lapse on Friday. Many Democrats are prepared to halt operations unless certain reforms are implemented.
Last week, Congressional Democrats sent a letter to their Republican counterparts detailing demands they believe must be met for their support of a funding bill. Key requests include requiring all immigration agents to wear body cameras and identification while prohibiting them from wearing masks.
In response, GOP lawmakers proposed a counteroffer and await feedback from Democrats. Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota remarked that negotiators are making “progress” toward a funding agreement.
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is also taking an assertive stance, advocating for a reform package that would heighten penalties for immigrants entering the country unlawfully.
“I believe Democrats have underestimated our determination to resist their unreasonable demands. Their proposals effectively undermine ICE’s operational capabilities and create de facto amnesty for 15 to 20 million individuals who entered illegally, as it would hinder deportation processes,” Schmitt articulated.
“We’re not going down that path,” he asserted.
As Republicans strive to reclaim the immigration debate, scrutiny of President Trump’s enforcement measures is intensifying among lawmakers and the public alike.
During an oversight hearing on Tuesday, House Homeland Security Committee Democrats interrogated leaders from ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. They focused on recent enforcement actions in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two individuals: Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
“This hearing marks the beginning of accountability for the Trump administration and its misuse of DHS against American citizens,” declared Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi. “DHS must face consequences,” he added.
Rep. LaMonica McIver from New Jersey employed more intense language, questioning Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, about his moral standing.
Conversely, Republican committee members commended federal immigration agents' actions while accusing state and local Democratic officials of non-cooperation.
Recent surveys reveal that many Americans harbor concerns regarding the administration's immigration enforcement strategies.
A February Quinnipiac University poll indicated that 63 percent of Americans disapprove of ICE's enforcement methods, while only 34 percent approve. Similarly, a January Siena College survey found that 61 percent believe ICE's tactics have exceeded acceptable limits.
