Stephen Miller Demanded ICE Target 7-Eleven Stores

A recent report in The Washington Examiner details a highly critical meeting between former Trump aide Stephen Miller and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, revealing a demand for increased arrest numbers that reportedly fostered a climate of fear within the agency. According to three current and former federal immigration officials, Miller strongly berated ICE agents over what he perceived as insufficient deportation numbers, specifically questioning why they weren’t focusing on locations like 7-Eleven and Home Depot to locate potential deportees.

One official described the meeting as a complete evisceration of leadership, stating Miller offered no positive feedback and significantly damaged morale. The report alleges Miller pressed agents on why they weren’t apprehending more individuals, seemingly prioritizing quantity over focusing on individuals who had committed crimes. When an official attempted to explain the agency’s focus on criminal targets, mirroring statements made by former ICE Director Tom Homan, Miller reportedly reacted with anger, questioning the rationale.

ICE Deputy Assistant Director of Media Affairs, Laszlo Baksay, disputed portions of the report, claiming Miller did not make many of the statements attributed to him. However, the report paints a picture of a deeply demoralized agency, with officials describing a “fearful environment” and a lack of morale due to perceived pressure from the White House to dramatically increase arrest numbers.

Two officials indicated that ICE personnel are already struggling with a substantial workload and feel further burdened by constantly shifting expectations from the administration. This comes after Miller recently stated on Fox News that the goal under President Trump was to achieve a minimum of 3,000 daily arrests, with a continued push to increase that figure in order to deport individuals who entered the country during the Biden administration.

The incident raises serious questions about the potential for political interference in law enforcement and the impact of aggressive enforcement goals on agency morale and operational priorities. While increased enforcement is often a stated goal of administrations, the reported manner in which Miller allegedly conveyed his expectations appears to have created a toxic atmosphere within ICE, potentially hindering effective and targeted immigration enforcement. The focus on arbitrary numbers, rather than prioritizing individuals posing a genuine threat to public safety, is a concerning aspect of this report.