A New Trump Plan Gives DHS and the White House Greater Influence in the Fight Against Organized Crime (propublica.org)

🔗 https://www.propublica.org/article/stephen-miller-trump-dhs-fbi-doj-war-on-drugs
Posted on Jan 1, 1

Overview & Context

In this June 25, 2025 investigation, ProPublica uncovers how Stephen Miller, as White House deputy chief of staff and Homeland Security Advisor, is orchestrating a major overhaul of federal criminal enforcement—handing power over drug and organized crime investigations to DHS and FBI-led task forces, rather than neutral prosecutors or the DEA.

🔍 Key Highlights

  • Miller’s initiative creates new DHS–FBI task forces that diminish the traditional roles of DEA and federal prosecutors.
  • Based on internal memos, these task forces report directly to the White House, granting political influence over decisions on investigations and targets.
  • A former DOJ attorney warns:

    “You won’t have neutral prosecutors weighing the facts … The White House will be able to decide.”

  • The task force was authorized via Trump’s executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” with priorities like targeting cartels and human traffickers, especially when minors are involved.

🏛️ Legal Norms & Concerns

  • Deerasing the role of neutral attorneys could undermine prosecutorial independence and erode legal checks.
  • The DEA’s exclusion from meetings highlights the politicization of drug enforcement strategy.
  • Experts worry this model sets a dangerous precedent for executive overreach in criminal justice.

🌍 Broader Significance

  • The shift reflects Miller’s wider agenda—melding immigration, criminal enforcement, and executive authority into a centralized federal strategy.
  • It signals deeper politicization of law enforcement, potentially compromising institutional integrity.
  • This aligns itatically with other Trump-era reforms that transfer power from neutral agencies to politically controlled task forces.

📚 Citation

ProPublica Investigations Team. (2025, June 25). Stephen Miller’s Task Force Shifts Power Over Criminal Investigations. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/stephen-miller-trump-dhs-fbi-doj-war-on-drugs
Summary generated by ChatGPT (GPT‑4).