President-elect Donald Trump is appointing two influential immigration hardliners, Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, to key White House positions as part of his effort to implement sweeping immigration policies. These appointments do not require Senate confirmation but are expected to significantly impact the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement.
Homan, selected as Trump’s “border czar,” and Miller, tapped as deputy White House chief of staff for policy, will not formally head government agencies but will hold significant sway over the actions of cabinet secretaries and agency leaders. Their roles will focus on advancing some of Trump’s most prominent immigration promises, including mass deportations, the expansion of immigration detention, and the hiring of thousands of border agents.
While their primary responsibility will lie within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homan and Miller are also likely to influence other agencies. These include the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees refugee resettlement and the care of unaccompanied migrant children, as well as the Department of Labor, which manages employment-based visa programs. The State and Justice Departments, responsible for issuing visas and managing immigration courts, will also fall under their purview.
The appointments signal Trump’s intent to follow through on his commitment to mass deportations. Homan, who previously led DHS’s division for arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants, has long advocated for strict immigration enforcement. Miller, who has spent over a decade shaping policy to reduce legal immigration, was an early and vocal supporter of Trump’s 2016 campaign.
“This shows Trump is carefully choosing people he trusts to carry out his agenda,” said Daniel Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for stricter immigration laws. Both Homan and Miller were central to Trump’s controversial family separation policy, and their rapid appointments highlight the president’s focus on immigration enforcement as his top priority.
Despite facing strong criticism over policies like family separation, Homan has defended his approach, asserting that deportations could occur without separating families. “Families can be deported together,” he stated in a recent interview.
Miller, who played a prominent role at Trump’s closing campaign rally, is known for his hardline stance on immigration. He and Homan have remained loyal to Trump, even as other former administration officials distanced themselves.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, there are questions about how much power Homan and Miller will have in their new roles. Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, raised concerns about the challenges of their roles, given their broad responsibilities without clear authority over specific agencies.
Meanwhile, advocates for immigrant rights are bracing for aggressive actions from the new administration. “We expect an enforcement-heavy agenda that will cause pain and suffering for immigrant communities,” said Nayna Gupta, policy director for the American Immigration Council.
As the administration moves forward, attention will also turn to the influence of tech industry leaders like Elon Musk, who may attempt to influence policies on foreign-born workers, particularly those in the H-1B visa program.
For now, Homan and Miller’s appointments signal a continued push to implement Trump’s tough immigration policies, with a focus on enforcement and restricting immigration.
Related topics:
- How Trump’s New ‘Border Tsar’ Plans to Tackle Immigration
- Trump Names First Political Appointments, Focusing on Immigration
- Immigrant Communities Fearful of the Impact of Trump’s Deportation Plan
