In a meeting last month, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller tore into senior leaders at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, demanding a massive surge in arrests of undocumented immigrants. As ICE tried to comply with Miller’s orders, immigration activists and other concerned Americans launched a series of protests in defiance of the mass deportation agenda. But it was a different set of protests that got the attention of Miller’s boss, President Donald Trump.
Last Thursday, the administration abruptly paused in raids and arrests at hotels, farms, and restaurants, a stunning shift in priorities that was clearly contrary to Miller’s orders. But the change was short-lived. The Department of Homeland Security reversed that guidance Monday, according to the Washington Post, allowing the immigration raids on those industries resume and letting Miller retake control of the policy that has been the focus of his years in both Trump administrations.
And while Trump officials reversed course, the rapid shift serves as an important reminder: Miller may care little about the secondary effects of mass deportations, but the rest of the administration can’t ignore them entirely.
This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest column. Read the full column here.
