Based on ICE unlikely to scale back crackdown, sources say, citing Stephen Miller · CBS News, Nov 8, 2026, 08:10 ET
Explain the Big Deal: ICE is expected to keep arrest and deportation operations at current levels as Democrats gain oversight power, but Trump could block any rollback.
What happened?
The Trump administration is unlikely to scale back its immigration crackdown after the midterm elections, according to multiple U.S. officials speaking to CBS News. The officials said ICE has not been told to reduce enforcement, even after Republican losses and voter concerns about deportations. They said the administration still plans to keep arrest and deportation efforts moving at a high pace.
Who is involved and why does it matter?
Stephen Miller is central to the story because he has just been elevated to White House chief of staff and is seen as the main architect of the administration’s hardline immigration agenda. The story says ICE has been told to aim for about 19,000 arrests a week, and DHS and ICE officials have not received instructions to ease up. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the administration will keep targeting people it calls criminal illegal aliens, while critics in Congress and local governments may try to push back.
What is the broader context?
The broader context is a political shift after the midterms, when Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress starting in January. That gives them tools such as subpoenas, hearings and attempts to restrict immigration-enforcement funding. The story also notes that immigration was a major issue for voters, with exit polls showing many Texas Latino voters swung toward Democrats and 58% of voters nationwide saying the deportation crackdown had gone too far.
What happens next?
Next, Democrats are expected to use their new congressional majority to investigate and possibly limit the administration’s immigration actions, while the White House is expected to resist those efforts. Even if Congress acts, the story says President Trump could veto restrictions and the administration has already been given $75 billion through 2029 for immigration enforcement. The article does not say whether the arrest target will change, only that officials do not expect a slowdown soon.
Written by the Explain the Big Deal template from the article above. An AI summary: read the full story at the source.
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