WASHINGTON — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller sparked controversy Friday after stating that undocumented immigrants in the United States are not entitled to due process protections during removal proceedings.
“There are 15 million illegal aliens,” Miller said in a video that circulated widely online. “If each were given a full trial, deportations would take centuries. They had no due process entering the country, and they are not entitled to it when being removed.”
Miller’s remarks come as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to restrict immigration and challenge birthright citizenship, describing immigration enforcement as a long-term social issue. Earlier this week, Miller called birthright citizenship an “illegal suicidal” policy, arguing that immigration has lasting effects on future generations.
Legal experts dispute Miller’s claims regarding due process. Supreme Court precedent, including Wong Wing v. United States (1896), affirms that constitutional protections, including the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause, extend to noncitizens within U.S. territory. While removal proceedings are civil rather than criminal, courts have consistently held that individuals facing deportation are entitled to basic procedural safeguards, including notice and a hearing.
Miller’s estimate of 15 million undocumented immigrants also conflicts with research from the Pew Research Center, which places the figure at roughly 10.5 to 11 million — a number that has remained relatively stable in recent years.
His comments come amid ongoing legal challenges to a Trump executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and certain temporary residents, an order that has been blocked by lower courts for conflicting with the Fourteenth Amendment.
Immigration advocates argue that statements like Miller’s could undermine protections for vulnerable populations while adding to the politicization of enforcement.
Kennedy’s Win: Senate Declares “America Is for Americans” 
WASHINGTON — In a dramatic late-night session, the Senate approved what Senator John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) hailed as a landmark reaffirmation of American sovereignty after voting to advance the “Born in America Act,” a bill aimed at tightening eligibility requirements for federal office.
Kennedy, who led the push for the legislation, described the bill as a step toward ensuring “undivided national loyalty” in Washington. The measure would restrict federal service to natural-born U.S. citizens, excluding individuals with past or present dual citizenship from serving in Congress, the Cabinet, the Judiciary, or federal agencies.
Kennedy’s Closing Argument
The vote—decided 51–49 with the Vice President casting the tie-breaker—came after a sharply divided debate.
“The Constitution says natural-born for President,” Kennedy said in his final floor remarks. “Tonight, we reaffirmed a principle: if you weren’t born on this soil, you don’t run this soil.”
The line immediately dominated online conversation, with supporters praising it as a return to traditional constitutional standards while critics decried it as exclusionary.
Supporters Claim “Restoring Integrity”
Advocates of the bill framed the passage as a long-overdue safeguard. Some lawmakers described the vote as a step toward reinforcing trust in public institutions, arguing that federal leadership should reflect “unquestioned allegiance.”
Opponents, however, called the bill legally questionable and warned that it could trigger court challenges.
Social Media Erupts
Former President Donald Trump celebrated the Senate’s decision moments before midnight, posting:
“Biggest win ever. America First just became America ONLY.”
The post ignited intense online reaction, pushing hashtags related to the bill to the top of global trending lists.
A short clip of Kennedy’s final gavel moment spread rapidly across platforms, drawing tens of millions of views within hours as the debate over national identity and federal eligibility roared into the digital sphere.
A Divisive Dawn
While critics labeled the moment a “constitutional clash in the making,” supporters described it as a symbolic reset—an emphatic declaration that federal service should be reserved for those born into U.S. citizenship.
For many Americans who have long felt conflicted about divided loyalties in government, the vote was greeted as a reaffirmation of national identity.
Whether the bill survives anticipated legal scrutiny or clears the House remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: its passage has escalated a national debate over identity, belonging, and who gets to lead the country into the future.