The Trump administration is showing no signs of scaling back its aggressive campaign against illegal immigration following the midterm elections. Multiple U.S. officials confirmed that the appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff serves as a definitive signal that the deportation strategy will remain a primary focus of executive policy. Including in January, when federal immigration officials killed two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during a crackdown in Minneapolis that the administration scaled back following bipartisan outcry, those immigration enforcement operations have often triggered widespread community backlash. As the Trump administration has greatly narrowed other avenues for those fighting deportation to be released from ICE detention, habeas cases have skyrocketed over the past two years. Including by issuing a flurry of subpoenas, holding oversight hearings and passing measures to limit immigration enforcement funds, she expects congressional Democrats to use their new powers to try to rein in ICE.
While the Republican Party faced significant setbacks on Election Day, including losses in historically reliable regions like Texas, officials at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have received no instructions to curtail enforcement activities. Sources speaking on condition of anonymity indicated that the agency remains committed to its current operational trajectory.
Recent directives have tasked ICE officials with targeting approximately 19,000 arrests per week, or roughly 2,700 daily. This figure represents a notable escalation from the previous goal of 2,000 arrests per day, a target that was established prior to the recent midterms. In recent weeks, ICE officials have been instructed to try to carry out around 19,000 arrests per week, or about 2,700 per day, an increase from a prior 2,000 daily arrest target, agency sources told.
Public sentiment appears split regarding these tactics. Exit polls revealed that immigration was a dominant concern for voters, particularly among Texas Latinos who shifted their support toward Democrats. Furthermore, 58% of nationwide voters expressed the view that the administration’s deportation efforts had gone too far. Conversely, administration officials maintain that the electoral losses were driven by concerns over the economy, affordability, and the ongoing conflict with Iran, rather than immigration policy.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis defended the administration’s record, stating that there is no intention to slow efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens. Bis emphasized that the administration has achieved historically low levels of illegal border crossings, marking a sharp decline from the peak numbers observed during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
The shift in congressional power adds a layer of complexity to the administration’s plans.
Starting in January, Democratic lawmakers will assume control of both chambers of Congress, granting them subpoena power to launch investigations into controversial immigration policies.
Policy analysts like Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former DHS official, suggest that while congressional Democrats will likely hold oversight hearings and attempt to restrict funding, the administration maintains a strong defensive position. Notably, the agency is bolstered by $75 billion in funding secured through 2029 via previous legislation. But Cardinal Brown stressed Mr. Trump will likely veto any Democratic attempts to restrict ICE enforcement and noted the agency received $75 billion in funds through 2029 due to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that the president signed into law last year. They’re going to continue apace,” Cardinal Brown said. “They have the money.
Cardinal Brown also anticipates potential friction at the local level. Some jurisdictions with newly elected Democratic leadership may move to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. For example, Houston’s mayor recently signaled an intent to direct local police to minimize their collaboration with ICE.
Stephen Miller’s influence has been central to these policies for a decade, tracing back to the 2016 campaign. During his initial tenure, he was a key architect of the “zero tolerance” policy and travel restrictions targeting Muslim-majority nations. Since returning to the White House, Miller has successfully closed the asylum system, restricted refugee admissions, and tightened access to legal pathways like green cards. Since his successful 2016 presidential campaign, when he promised to shut down Muslim immigration to the U.S. and dramatically expand deportations of those in the U.S. illegally, miller has been seen as a loyal foot soldier in President Trump’s inner circle for a decade.
Beyond his immigration portfolio, Miller has been instrumental in a broader crackdown on universities and legal organizations, as well as investigations into alleged fraud in Democratic-leaning states like Minnesota. His recent proposals have even included the potential suspension of habeas corpus for detainees, a move intended to limit the ability of individuals to challenge their detention in court. Miller has publicly floated the idea of suspending habeas corpus — the conditional right for people to challenge unlawful detention — for ICE detainees.
As the administration moves into the next phase of its agenda, the White House remains steadfast. When asked if the midterms might influence a change in enforcement, one official noted that, with Miller now serving as chief of staff, one should expect the opposite of a pullback.
