Washington, D.C. [US], November 9 (ANI): Despite significant electoral setbacks during the midterm elections, the Trump administration intends to maintain its aggressive immigration enforcement posture, driven largely by the influence of White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, multiple U.S. officials told CBS News.
Republicans suffered major defeats nationwide on Election Day, including in historically Republican states such as Texas. Exit polls revealed that immigration remained a central voter concern alongside economic issues, with Texas Latinos shifting substantially toward Democratic candidates.
Furthermore, national surveys indicated that 58 percent of voters believed the federal deportation crackdown had “gone too far.”
With opposition lawmakers scheduled to assume control of both chambers of Congress in January, gaining extensive investigative authority over federal immigration policies, enforcement operations continue unabated.
Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have received no directives to curtail operations following the vote, sources speaking anonymously to CBS News confirmed.
Internal targets within ICE recently increased from previous daily operational goals to approximately 2,700 arrests per day, aiming for roughly 19,000 weekly apprehensions, agency sources told CBS News. Officials noted that this benchmark was established before the congressional elections.
The elevation of Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff signals that the administration will persist with both high-profile deportation sweeps and broader efforts to restrict legal entry channels.
When asked about a potential enforcement rollback, one official told CBS News, “I would count on the opposite” with Miller as chief of staff.
Administration leaders maintain that the electoral losses stemmed primarily from public concerns about economic affordability and foreign policy tensions rather than immigration policies.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis defended the administration’s record to CBS News, stating, “This administration will not slow down its efforts to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens who terrorize our communities. There has never been a President stronger on immigration enforcement than President Trump.”
The Department of Homeland Security echoed this position in a weekend statement, affirming that ICE would not be “backing away or slowing down.”
Throughout his tenure, Miller has developed hard-line immigration measures, expanding his administrative authority to effectively suspend asylum systems, restrict refugee admissions and carry out sweeping domestic arrest operations.
While outside analysts anticipate rising political friction, including potential congressional subpoenas, oversight hearings and local noncooperation policies in jurisdictions such as Houston, the administration retains substantial funding resources secured through long-term budget legislation, ensuring that enforcement operations will continue. (ANI)
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