Stephen Miller, the architect of President Trump's mass deportation agenda, has been less visible in recent months, but officials say this is a choreographed retreat. According to The Daily Beast, citing senior administration sources, Miller retains the same influence over U.S. immigration policy while moving out of the spotlight.
Miller and border czar Tom Homan remain the key power players, rather than newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. One source described them as being “in lock step,” operating like a “tag team.” Mullin reportedly told Miller “how well he had been doing so far.”
The White House defended Miller, with communications director Steven Cheung stating: “Stephen Miller is one of President Trump’s most trusted and longest serving aides… The President loves Stephen and the White House staff respects him tremendously.” The Department of Homeland Security added that Mullin works closely with Trump, Miller, and Homan to “remove criminal illegal aliens.”
Future immigration policy direction may become clearer when a new director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is selected. Current director Todd Lyons plans to step down on 31 May. Mullin reportedly favours Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, while David Venturella, a former private prison executive, is seen as an ally of Homan.
Despite the continued influence of Miller and Homan, the administration has dialled back some aggressive tactics. After agents shot two protesters, the White House reduced the immigration force in Minnesota, fired former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and directed agents to stop cuffing immigrants in courthouses and carrying out warrantless arrests. Border Patrol's Gregory Bovino, who led a roving force of masked agents, has retired, and a fast-track agent training programme has been ditched. Immigration arrests fell sharply after their peak in late 2025/early 2026, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Critics remain unsatisfied. Representative Delia C. Ramirez of Illinois wrote on X: “Until Stephen Miller is fired, he is still the architect of the Trump regime and its white-nationalist, fascist mandate… We will not rest until Stephen Miller and all those who have abused their power are held accountable.”
