Southern Poverty Law Center adds Stephen Miller to its extremist list

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By David Ian Klein July 15, 2020

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which documents hate across the United States, added a new entry to its list of extremists on Wednesday: White House senior advisor Stephen Miller.

The organization wrote in its entry for Miller that the aide “is credited with shaping the racist and draconian immigration policies of President Trump.” It credits Miller with orchestrating the Trump administration’s hardline immigration positions, such as the zero-tolerance policy that has led to family separations at the southern border, the so-called Muslim Ban, the decision to halt green card issuance during the coronavirus pandemic.

It also blamed Miller for speeches made by Trump that were interpreted as dogwhistles for racists.

“Through the conscious use of fearmongering and xenophobia, Miller implements policies which demonize immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, in an apparent effort to halt all forms of immigration to the United States,” the SPLC argued.

The SPLC last year published hundreds of leaked emails from Miller that many categorized as racist.

Miller, who is Jewish, has long drawn the ire of major Jewish groups like the Union for Reform Judaism and the Anti-Defamation League, who demanded his resignation after the SPLC published an investigation into leaked emails from Miller that many interpreted as racist.

Miller has also been condemned by several family members for his anti-immigrant policies.

David Ian Klein covers breaking news and international Jewish communities for the Forward. You can reach him at [email protected] and on Twitter @davidianklein.

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