United States Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller asserted that the long-term cost to taxpayers of each illegal immigrant family exceeds one million dollars, arguing that opposition to remigrating such families equates to abandoning border security, laws, and national sovereignty.

“Biden allowed millions of illegal alien families into the country. Each illegal family costs taxpayers one million dollars (far more over the course of a lifetime). Any Democrat saying we cannot remigrate illegals with children is saying we cannot have a border, laws or a nation,” Miller stated.

Biden allowed millions of illegal alien families into the country. Each illegal family costs taxpayers one million dollars (far more over the course of a lifetime). Any Democrat saying we cannot remigrate illegals with children is saying we cannot have a border, laws or a nation.

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) February 1, 2026

His remarks underscore the Trump administration’s push for large-scale deportations, including family units, as part of broader efforts to reverse what officials describe as unchecked entries during the prior administration. Miller has repeatedly framed the financial burden of unauthorized immigration in terms of welfare, education, healthcare, and other public services, claiming lifetime costs per family reach or surpass the million-dollar figure when accounting for sustained support.

This position aligns with ongoing enforcement priorities, where administration figures have highlighted purported savings from removals and emphasized that such actions target those who entered unlawfully rather than legal residents. Critics of the policy argue it overlooks contributions from undocumented immigrants, including tax payments, and the humanitarian implications of separating families or deporting parents of U.S.-born children.

For context, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 10 million nationwide migrant encounters during the Biden administration’s term from fiscal year 2021 through 2024, with estimates from congressional reports and analyses placing the figure around 10.8 million to 11 million total encounters, including those at the Southwest border exceeding 8 million in some counts. These encounters do not equate to net entries, as millions resulted in expulsions, returns, or removals—particularly under Title 42 until mid-2023—though substantial numbers were released into the United States pending immigration proceedings, often via parole programs or notices to appear. Additional known “gotaways”—individuals evading detection—numbered over 1.5 million to 1.7 million according to various government and oversight reports. The Obama administration, by comparison, oversaw a record high number of formal removals, exceeding 3 million over two terms, according to Department of Homeland Security data and analyses from groups. That period focused enforcement on recent border crossers and those with criminal convictions, though it drew criticism from immigrant advocates who labeled Obama the “deporter in chief.” Miller’s comments reflect a continuation and intensification of enforcement rhetoric, now centered on fiscal impacts and the necessity of family-inclusive deportations to restore order at the border.