Is Stephen Miller trying to torpedo Trump's immigration deal?


If President Trump is unable to strike an immigration deal, White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller might be to blame, McClatchy reports.
Citing a whopping 14 sources, McClatchy reports that people on both sides of the aisle think Miller is pushing for controversial policies in an immigration deal because he knows they are untenable to Democrats and moderate Republicans and would thus sink any hopes of passing major legislation.
Miller has long held hard-line views on immigration. One source complained to McClatchy that Trump "could have had a deal months ago. [Miller] is actively undermining the president."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to craft an immigration deal sympathetic to the DREAMers — immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents — but Miller reportedly keeps pushing the White House to the right in bipartisan negotiations. McClatchy reports Miller was "irked" after White House Chief of Staff John Kelly agreed to relent on some of Miller's pet policies, including a reduction in legal immigration and harsh restrictions for people seeking asylum.
But last Friday, the White House reasserted its desire for the hard-line policies Miller has advocated for. Moreover, the aide has long been on the front line for tough immigration policies. McClatchy pointed out that in 2013, Miller — at the time a staffer for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was then serving as a Republican senator for Alabama — worked relentlessly to oppose a bipartisan immigration bill that ultimately failed in the House.
One source told McClatchy that Miller's previous efforts do not bode well for the future: "Look what happened last time. ... [Lawmakers] are having flashbacks." But the administration defended its man, with one unnamed White House source telling McClatchy, "He is trying to make a deal." Read more at McClatchy.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein