Inside Trump adviser Stephen Miller's grand plan to 'clean house' at the DHS

Stephen Miller
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller is reportedly looking to clean house in the Trump administration.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's resignation on Sunday came as Miller has been pushing for a broader shakeup, looking to install more immigration hardliners throughout the administration, Politico reports. He reportedly played in role in Ronald Vitiello's ICE director nomination being pulled, which Trump said was because the administration wants to go in a "tougher" direction. Nielsen's support for Vitiello was "problematic for her with the president," The New York Times reports.

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For instance, Miller has reportedly been recommending Trump fire the current director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. He has also been making phone calls to mid-level employees throughout the administration to "angrily demand" they do more on immigration, Politico reports, which an official briefed described as "intimidation." If that's the case, it seems to be working, as some officials evidently fear their job will be at risk if "they don't pursue a more aggressive approach to border control."

Miller, who a former White House aide quoted in his book as allegedly saying he "would be happy if not a single refugee foot ever again touched America's soil," has reportedly been gaining more influence in the administration, with The Washington Post reporting that Trump told his advisers that going forward, Miller would be "in charge of all immigration initiatives."

Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.