Stephen Miller: words from immigration hardliner and bombastic critic of Democrats as chief of staff

A central role on immigration

Miller has promoted many of the Trump administration’s signature domestic initiatives since Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. His record is likely to face scrutiny from Democrats as he leads the White House during a difficult lame-duck period, following Republican losses in both houses of Congress.

During a 2023 increase in illegal border crossings, Miller characterized migrants as invaders, although many were fleeing poverty and violence. On Fox News Channel, he warned that the country could change permanently without large-scale deportations.

In 2018, Miller defended the administration’s family-separation policy, which called for routinely separating children from parents apprehended for crossing the border illegally. He described it to The New York Times as a decision tied to a zero-tolerance approach to illegal entry.

Statements after Minneapolis shooting

After federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti during January protests against the administration’s immigration policies, Miller called the 37-year-old Minneapolis resident a “domestic terrorist” and an “assassin” in a social media post. Miller also accused him of trying to kill federal agents. Later, Miller said in a statement that federal officers in Minneapolis “may not have been following” protocol.

Venezuela and Greenland claims

Miller also defended U.S. control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, claiming American effort had created the country’s oil industry. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, he said global affairs were governed by strength and power while defending Trump’s assertion that the United States was running Venezuela.

In that interview, Miller said Greenland should be part of the United States and argued that no one would fight the U.S. militarily over its future. Greenland is part of NATO ally Denmark.

Habeas corpus proposal

In May 2025, Miller said the administration was actively considering ways to expand deportations of migrants in the country illegally, including suspending habeas corpus. He cited the Constitution’s provision allowing suspension of the right during an invasion and said the courts’ actions could affect the decision. The idea had not been publicly pursued by Trump or his administration in the nearly 18 months after Miller raised it.