President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, who held the post throughout his second term. The White House announced the appointment on Friday, Nov. 6, identifying Miller as the 33rd person to serve in the role.
The appointment follows Republican losses in the midterm elections and comes as Democrats prepare investigations into the administration, including its immigration enforcement. Trump called Miller one of his “most trusted” advisers, according to CBS News.
Miller has helped shape immigration policy in both Trump administrations. During the first, he backed the travel ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries, a policy that faced protests and legal challenges. The Supreme Court upheld a later version in 2018. He also supported the 2018 “zero tolerance” policy, which led to thousands of family separations, and pushed for lower refugee admissions. The annual ceiling was set at 15,000 for fiscal year 2021, then a record low.
A central role in the second-term enforcement push
In Trump’s second term, Miller pressed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make at least 3,000 arrests a day. He publicly called for a sharp increase in arrests in May 2025, while also proposing that the National Guard assist with mass deportations. The expanded enforcement effort included arrests in communities, workplaces and immigration courts.
Miller also advocated using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. The Supreme Court blocked the government from immediately deporting the men without giving them an opportunity to challenge their removal.
Other proposals and actions attributed to Miller included deporting immigrants to third countries where they had no citizenship or family ties, and considering a suspension of habeas corpus, the legal mechanism detainees can use to challenge their confinement. The White House announcement confirming his appointment is available from the White House.
Nicole French 
Reid Bentley