President-elect Trump’s chief of staff on immigration and border issues met with House Republicans Wednesday in a roughly hour-long meeting.
Members of Congress who left the room praised Stephen Miller, who was selected as Homeland Security Advisor in the new Trump administration, as a brilliant policy mind.
Two sources who attended the talks told Fox News Digital Mirror that they discussed the need to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staffing, but that Trump would not be able to do so if he returns to office. This is noteworthy given the promise to carry out mass deportations.
Miller also discussed ways to reduce federal funding flowing to sanctuary cities and states, a cash flow that Republicans are targeting if they seize power in Washington.
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President Trump advisor Stephen Miller addressed a group of House Republicans on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. (Getty Images)
The strategy session comes as Congressional Republicans prepare for a major overhaul of conservative policies through the budget reconciliation process. Lowering the threshold for Senate passage from 60 votes to 51 votes would allow the party that controls Congress and the White House to pass far-reaching policy changes conditional on addressing the budget and other fiscal issues. Become.
Officials at a Fox News Digital Mirror meeting gave a partial overview of what border and immigration policies could be included in a settlement package and what funding Congress would need to appropriate. He said he focused on.
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Sources said Miller told Republicans that the incoming Trump administration understands that the president-elect’s border and immigration goals “probably won’t win a lot” of Democratic votes and that “the more controversial issues will be settled.” You’ll need to do that,” he said. More bipartisan initiatives could be passed during the regular process, the official added.
House Republicans told Fox News Digital they understand Congress will follow Trump’s lead.
“There will be a number of executive orders issued early on. That will help separate it from the legislative mandate,” he said.
Mr. Miller emphasized the importance of the message, adding, “If we don’t get the message out to the American people, it doesn’t mean anything,” according to one of the people present.
President-elect Trump has promised to carry out mass deportations. (Donald Trump/Truth Social)
Rep. Ralph Norman (RS.C.) spoke to FOX News Digital Mirror discussing the “low hanging fruit” that President Trump could address with executive orders, including potentially “deportation.” He said he mentioned it.
“The tax issue, that’s going to take time,” Norman said.
Rep. Mark Alford (R-Missouri) did not go into details of the meeting, but the discussion focused on “illegal immigration and how to curb it and bring common sense solutions to the program.” He said he was guessing.
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“There were several questions about what it would cost American taxpayers if the Biden administration does not repatriate the approximately 12 million illegal aliens who have entered our country,” Alford said. said.
Miller declined to answer reporters’ questions as he left the room.
He was invited to speak at the Republican Study Committee, led by Rep. August Pflueger (R-Texas), the largest House Republican caucus. The committee serves as a kind of conservative think tank for the rest of the House Republican conference.
“The Republican Research Committee is aligned with the incoming Trump administration,” Pfluger told Fox News Digital after the meeting. “We will work around the clock, especially in times of need, to fulfill our commitments to the American people. I’m dedicated to it,” he said. It’s about securing our borders and enforcing our immigration policies. ”
“We will continue to work with Stephen Miller and his team to deliver the wins we need in the House of Representatives.”
House Republican leaders such as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) were not present and were not expected to attend.
Rep. Mark Alford said he asked about the cost to taxpayers of keeping millions of illegal immigrants in the country. (Getty Images)
Rep. Kevin Hahn (R-Okla.), the group’s former president, said “nothing new was said” during the meeting, which was an opportunity for Trump’s aides to address House Republicans. added.
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Trump and his aides are already paying close attention to Republicans in Congress.
Several of his incoming White House aides are in regular contact with leading Republicans. President Trump personally invited several groups of House Republicans to Mar-a-Lago last weekend.
Elizabeth Elkind is a political reporter for FOX News Digital, where she leads coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines can be found on the Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow @liz_elkind on Twitter and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
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