GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGraham 'not buying' Giuliani claim that Mueller is trying to frame president The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump HSAs expansion is a key to health care freedom MORE (S.C.) warned on Sunday that the White House staff is undercutting President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump tweets condolences after US soldier killed in Somalia Trump floats scrapping all tariffs, barriers at G-7 summit: report Dem rips Trump's call to include Russia in G7: What does Putin have on him? MORE and Congress's ability to get a deal on immigration.
"Every time we have a proposal it is only yanked back by staff members. As long as Stephen Miller is in charge of negotiating immigration, we're going nowhere," Graham told reporters as he headed into a closed-door negotiation with a bipartisan group of senators.
He added that "the White House staff, I think, is making it very difficult."
Miller, a White House aide, is well known for his conservative views on immigration. He was formerly a staffer for then-Sen. Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsHillicon Valley: Mueller hits Manafort with more charges | DOJ targets NYT reporter in leak probe | Chinese hacker steals sensitive data from Navy contractor | House votes against reviving tech office Oversight panel may hold hearing on DOJ reporter surveillance Senate Dems introduce bill to prevent separation of families at border MORE (R-Ala.), who frequently opposed bipartisan immigration deals.
Miller authored the White House's wide-ranging immigration plan, which includes wall funding and cracking down on cities that don't comply with federal immigration law.
Graham said on Sunday that Miller has "been an outlier for years" on the issue of immigration.
The White House fired back at Graham.
"As long as Senator Graham chooses to support legislation that sides with people in this country illegally and unlawfully instead of our own American citizens, we are going nowhere. He’s been an outlier for years," said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.
Democrats have repeatedly bristled at Miller's involvement in the immigration talks, arguing he isn't a constructive force in the immigration talks.
