Stephen Miller leads White House push to accelerate removal of migrant children

Stephen Miller, acting as deputy chief of staff at the White House, is leading a multi-departmental effort to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrant children from the United States. This whole-of-government approach involves at least five cabinet-level departments, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Data from the Department of Justice’s executive office for immigration review indicates that nearly 200,000 children have been ordered removed by immigration judges since the start of the current administration, a doubling of such orders since January 2025. Critics argue the administration is dismantling inter-agency safeguards and fast-tracking applications to ensure rejections, often without legal representation for the children.

The White House has defended these actions, framing the initiative as an anti-trafficking effort. A White House spokeswoman stated that agencies are working to “locate and rescue these children” and ensure they are “reunited with their parents and families in their home countries.”