|
Representative Elijah Cummings, chairman of the Democratic-led
House of Representatives' Oversight Committee, wrote in a letter
that he would like Miller to explain why the administration
decided to separate immigrant children from their parents at the
border.
He also called for explanation of "transferring asylum seekers
to sanctuary cities as a form of illegal retribution against
your political adversaries, and firing top administration
officials who refuse orders to violate the law."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Miller has been a driving force behind President Donald Trump's
immigration policies. A former Senate aide, Miller joined
Trump's campaign early in the primary season and has helped
shaped much of the administration's domestic policy.
The committee's request stops short of demanding Miller appear.
The panel could exercise its power to subpoena him, although
Miller could likely invoke executive privilege because his
discussions with Trump may not be subject to compulsory
testimony.
Trump said earlier this month that he would not revive a "zero
tolerance" prosecution policy his administration previously
implemented that required adults crossing the border illegally
to be criminally prosecuted.
Since children could not be held in federal jails with their
parents, the policy led to the separation of parents from
thousands of their young children with whom they traveled.
The border enforcement stance prompted legal challenges and a
public outcry that eventually forced the policy’s reversal.
Under Trump, federal agencies are trying to stem rising numbers
of people arriving at the border, many of them families fleeing
violence and poverty in Central America, that swelled last month
to the highest in a decade.
Trump campaigned in 2016 on a promise to restrict immigration
and has made it a central focus of his presidency.
(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
