WASHINGTON Shortly before ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, President Donald Trump said he would take an even tougher tack on border policies that for more than two years, by his own measure, have failed to deter immigration.
Some fear that may include a return of the reviled family separations that Trump was forced to back away from last year, as well as more firings.
But experts cautioned that replacing high-level personnel may not be enough to salvage an immigration policy that isnt working and has been reined in by the courts and Congress.
It comes as White House adviser Stephen Miller takes a more prominent role in implementing an immigration policy he has largely orchestrated behind the scenes since Trump took office.
In addition to urging the president to push out Nielsen, Miller, a long-time immigration hard-liner, is thought to have other administration officials in his sights.
On Monday, Trump made the surprise announcement that U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph Tex Alles would be replaced. Both Nielsen and Alles were closely associated with former White House chief of staff John Kelly, who resigned last year after falling out of favor with Trump.
On Thursday night, Trump blindsided many administration officials by abruptly withdrawing the nomination of a career official, Ronald D. Vitiello, to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Millers going to clean house, said a former White House official, calling Alles Kellys best friend. The former official, who did not want to be identified speaking about his one-time colleagues, predicted more departures. Hes firing all of Kellys people.
Nielsen, Trumps second Homeland Security secretary, was pushed out largely due to frustration over a recent spike in asylum-seeking Central American families and Trumps growing annoyance that she wouldnt take more aggressive steps.
Country is FULL! Trump tweeted shortly after announcing her imminent departure. … Will Close Southern Border If necessary …
For Trump and his closest aides particularly Miller the tough rhetoric is a red-meat handout to a base they see as critical to winning the White House again in 2020.
At the same time, the moves may be intended to mask the fact that their strategy to ramp-up immigration enforcement has failed to reduce near-record numbers of asylum-seekers and families. Hemmed in by U.S. immigration law, a Democratic-led House and the realities of the border, critics and supporters alike wonder where the president can actually go from here.
Stephen Miller and the administration ran out of options, and resorted to eating their own, said Blain Rethmeier, who worked in President George W. Bushs White House with Nielsen. Literally absent Congress and the courts, every option has been exhausted.
Miller is consolidating his already considerable power over White House immigration and border security policy, and proving he still very much has the presidents ear.
Much of Millers clout comes from Trumps familiarity with him, said Corey Lewandowski, a former campaign manager for Trump who still spends time with the president.
