Key Takeaways

• The Miller family fled anti-Jewish violence in Russia and built a new life in America.
• Stephen Miller champions policies that would have barred his own ancestors.
• His cousin, Alisa Kasmer, says he now pushes the very hate his family escaped.
• The 1924 Immigration Act praised by Miller would have made his family’s journey impossible.
• History warns against repeating past mistakes and cutting off hope for newcomers.

Miller family roots clash with Stephen Miller’s policies

Stephen Miller’s family journey to America

Stephen Miller’s grandparents carried a painful story. In 1903, Wolf Laib Glosser left Antopol, a small town now in Belarus. He fled anti-Jewish pogroms and forced military service under the czar. When Wolf Laib arrived at Ellis Island, he barely spoke English. He earned money selling fruit on New York streets. Soon, he sent for his mother, brothers, and sisters. Therefore, Wolf Laib and his close kin found safety, work, and community in the United States.

Miller family heritage vs policy

Interestingly, Stephen Miller often praises the Immigration Act of 1924. That law shut most doors to immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. In effect, it turned America into a gated community. For example, quotas cut Jewish arrivals by nearly 97 percent. Ironically, the law would have trapped Wolf Laib’s relatives in Antopol. As a result, many left behind perished under Nazi rule decades later.

Stephen Miller’s hardline immigration stance

In recent years, Stephen Miller rose to power as a top White House adviser. He wrote speeches that echo harsh, exclusionary language. His critics compare parts of his rhetoric to dangerous themes from Nazi Germany. He calls for extreme limits on legal immigration and asylum seekers. Moreover, he pushed to end programs that aided refugees from war zones. His vision ignores the story of his own grandparents.

Family reaction and moral clash

Alisa Kasmer, Stephen Miller’s cousin, speaks with deep pain. She says the family “knew how hated we were just for existing.” She adds that Miller now tries to take away “the exact thing his own family benefited from.” She means the chance to build a life, start a business, and raise children in safety. Her words show a sharp divide between family memory and current policy.

The 1924 Immigration Act and its cruel irony

Many historians note that the 1924 law reflected nativist fear. They saw Italians as anarchists and Jews as Bolsheviks. That fear fueled quotas that closed America’s doors. Stephen Miller admires that law today. However, his family story proves it caused real suffering. A lost book, “A Precious Legacy,” warns that the quotas would have left his family defenseless against Hitler’s genocide. Fortunately, Wolf Laib’s immediate family reached safety by 1920. Yet many who stayed behind met a tragic end at Nazi hands.

Lessons from history

History offers clear warnings. When a nation closes its doors, it loses the talents and dreams of newcomers. Moreover, it breaks its own moral compass. The Miller family story reminds us that refugees and immigrants once built this country. Therefore, excluding them repeats an ugly chapter. In fact, every law and policy reflects our shared values. If we turn away descendants of past refugees, we lose a piece of ourselves.

Why the Miller family story matters today

Today’s debates over immigration affect millions of lives. Families seek safety from war, violence, and oppression. They hope to start small businesses and send children to school. When policies mirror ancient prejudices, we risk repeating mistakes. Stephen Miller’s personal history shows how close we came to denying entry to those in need. By understanding his family past, we can challenge extremist ideas.

Building empathy, not walls

We must remember that every immigrant carries a story. They often leave behind persecution, hunger, or fear. When we open our hearts and borders, we gain new neighbors, workers, and friends. In contrast, closing borders sows fear and resentment. The Miller family saga teaches us that compassion builds stronger communities. It also proves that exclusion can lead to tragedy.

A call for reflection

As voters and citizens, we shape our nation’s path. We can choose policies that welcome hopeful newcomers. Or we can repeat the shameful acts of past generations. Therefore, reflecting on the Miller family journey matters. It shows how history, compassion, and policy deeply connect.

FAQs

What is Stephen Miller’s family background?

His grandparents fled anti-Jewish violence in czarist Russia around 1903. They settled in New York, selling fruit and raising relatives.

How did the Immigration Act of 1924 affect his ancestors?

The act imposed strict quotas that would have barred many Eastern European Jews. Had it applied to them, his family might not have reached safety.

What does Alisa Kasmer say about Stephen Miller’s stance?

She says Miller pushes the same hate his family escaped. She adds he tries to remove chances for prosperity that his own relatives enjoyed.

Why is there an irony in Stephen Miller’s policies?

He admires a law that would have denied refuge to his ancestors. That same law contributed to the mass murder of many Jews left behind.