Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem push for immigration agents to make 3,000 arrests per day: report

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are pushing for immigration authorities to dramatically increase arrests, setting a target of 3,000 per day. The goal would triple the number of daily arrests made at the start of President Donald Trump’s term and put the administration on pace to carry out over one million deportations in a year.

According to a report by Axios, Miller, who is leading Trump’s immigration policy efforts, reportedly delivered the directive during a meeting on May 21 at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, DC. 

Sources told Axios that Miller used a stern tone, warning top immigration officials that their job security could be at risk if the target is not met. Noem reportedly also pushed for more arrests but with a calmer approach, requesting feedback from ICE leaders.

The push comes as illegal border crossings have dropped significantly during Trump’s first four months back in office. However, deportation totals remain similar to those under the final year of the Biden administration. Nearly 49,000 people are currently in ICE custody, according to government data released earlier this month, but deportations have stalled as the courts have pushed back against expedited removals. 

Congressional Republicans are backing the administration’s immigration crackdown with a proposed $147 billion funding increase over the next decade. The measure, part of Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” passed the House last week and is now awaiting action in the Senate. Meanwhile, DHS and ICE have requested more staffing, bed space, and additional support to meet enforcement goals.

"Keeping President Trump's promise to deport illegal aliens is something the administration takes seriously," said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement. "We are committed to aggressively and efficiently removing illegal aliens from the United States, and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources necessary to do so. The safety of the American people depends upon it."