OUTMANEUVERED

Stephen Miller Steamrolled Mattis, Pompeo, Haley to Get Historic Low Refugee Cap: Report

All White House officials with a softer stance said to be excluded from meetings.

Stephen Miller has once again proved himself to be one of the most dangerously effective officials in the Trump administration. A report from NBC News early Friday details how the president’s special adviser managed to outmaneuver his opponents to successfully bring in a 30,000 annual cap on incoming refugees—a record-low number since the program’s creation in 1980. Days before it was announced, Miller made his case for fewer refugees to a room of senior officials at the White House—but officials with a gentler refugee outlook, such as U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Defense Secretary James Mattis, were said to be excluded from the meeting to prevent them putting forward their case. Miller’s previous “victories” include the Trump administration’s Muslim travel ban, limiting legal immigration, and separating migrant families at the border. The refugee cap was unveiled by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who previously opposed it. He gave no explanation as to why he had changed his position.