Who Is Stephen Miller?
Stephen Miller is an American political advisor serving as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor in President Donald Trump’s second administration. Born in 1985, Miller has been a defining figure behind Trump’s hardline immigration policies since the 2016 campaign and is now a top decision-maker on border enforcement, deportations, and homeland security strategy.
Miller first rose to prominence as senior advisor and speechwriter in Trump’s first term, where he shaped the travel ban, family separation policy, and border wall push. After 2021, he founded America First Legal, a conservative legal group, before returning to the White House in 2025. Today, he oversees a broad portfolio, including immigration enforcement, use of emergency authorities like the Alien Enemies Act, and coordination of federal agencies on homeland security matters.
Hardline Immigration Enforcement
As homeland security advisor, Miller is the chief architect of Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. He has directed ICE and other agencies to carry out large-scale raids and mass deportations, reportedly ordering arrests of thousands of undocumented immigrants per day. His strategy emphasizes using existing laws to bypass lengthy legal processes, including reviving Title 42-style expulsions and expanding detention capacity.
Miller frames undocumented immigration as a threat to public safety and Western civilization, often describing migrants in stark, criminalizing terms. This approach has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and lawmakers, who accuse him of promoting cruelty-as-policy and deepening racial and cultural divisions. His close collaboration with figures like Elon Musk on immigration and bureaucracy reflects his broader influence on the administration’s governing philosophy.
Expanded National Security Role
Beyond immigration, Miller’s role as homeland security advisor has given him unusual influence over national security decisions. He has separated the Homeland Security Council from the National Security Council, consolidating authority over border and domestic security issues. Anonymous officials report that Miller has at times taken a lead role in sensitive operations, such as decisions to strike Venezuelan boats, sometimes exceeding the influence of the secretary of state and national security adviser.
Miller also coordinates interagency policy to avoid actions that could damage relations with major powers like China, according to reports. His dual role as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor makes him one of the most powerful unelected figures in the administration, with direct daily access to the president and broad authority over executive action.