The debate over immigration policy and enforcement tactics in the United States reached a boiling point on Monday, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller delivering a scathing response to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. During an appearance on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," Miller vehemently criticized the Democratic Party's stance on immigration, particularly their support for sanctuary cities.
Earlier that day, Jeffries had accused the Trump administration of indiscriminately targeting nonviolent illegal immigrants in community settings. He urged officials to shift their focus to removing violent criminals. However, Miller's counter-argument was fierce. He accused the Democrats of allowing the entry of dangerous individuals into the country, thereby endangering American lives. "Can you imagine getting a lecture on public safety from the party that has let child rapists and murderers into this country en masse!?" Miller exclaimed.
Miller's argument centered on the contention that sanctuary city policies, which are often implemented in Democrat-led jurisdictions, contribute significantly to crime and suffering by protecting undocumented immigrants who have committed serious offenses from deportation. He referenced a recent incident in New York City, reported by The Daily Caller, where two illegal immigrants, previously arrested and released, allegedly assaulted an off-duty Border Patrol agent. This case was highlighted as evidence that Democratic leadership places political agendas above public safety.
"Their policies are evil! They are intentional," Miller declared. "They are malicious. They hate this country and they want our people to suffer. And they have turned migration into a weapon." He defended the targeted operations by ICE and Border Patrol, stating that these raids uncover the worst abuses and offenders, including human trafficking victims and perpetrators with extensive criminal records.
Miller also attributed a decline in the nation's murder rates to President Donald Trump's leadership and the efforts to deport violent offenders. This stance was supported by Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, who echoed the condemnation of sanctuary cities and pledged to work with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to remove illegal aliens involved in crime.
The conversation around immigration policy has been further fueled by recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which shows a stark contrast in enforcement between the Trump and Biden administrations. Notably, in May and June 2025, Border Patrol did not release any illegal immigrants into the interior of the country, a significant shift from the previous administration's numbers, where tens of thousands were released.
The heated exchange between Miller and Jeffries underscores the deep divide in the United States over immigration policy, with both sides holding diametrically opposed views on how to manage the country's borders and the individuals attempting to cross them.
