On Friday, July 18, 2026, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller stated that the Trump administration is implementing a policy aimed at debanking illegal immigrants to incentivize their self-deportation from the United States. Miller provided this update during an interview on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show.

Miller referenced an executive order signed by President Trump a few weeks prior, which prohibits illegal aliens from using banking services in the country. This order, likely the one signed on May 19, 2026, directs banks and federal regulators to increase scrutiny of accounts and credit applications involving immigrants without legal status or work authorization.

Further, Miller cited guidance issued on July 13 by three federal agencies reminding supervised financial institutions to apply existing safe-and-sound credit risk management practices when lending to borrowers not legally authorized to work in the United States.

"Illegal aliens have credit cards, they have bank accounts, and they're paid with direct deposit. So, illegal aliens fully participate in the commercial systems, the financial systems of America. Shutting that down is a massive engine for deportation," Miller said.

Separately, the Justice Department and FBI announced the arrest of eight alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, charged with kidnappings and murders in Texas and Illinois.

Additionally, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, appeared at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on July 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Sources