Maya Wiley on Extremism in the Military
On Monday, former federal prosecutor Maya Wiley expressed concerns on MSNBC, estimating that about 11% of U.S. military personnel may identify as white supremacists or extremists.
In a related event, the Supreme Court approved the Trump administration’s move to lift immigration-related restrictions in Los Angeles. Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that it’s not the role of the judiciary to determine immigration policy or enforcement priorities. During the “Deadline: White House” segment, Wiley warned that the country could face serious consequences if its institutions don’t counter rising authoritarianism and racial profiling.
“We might find ourselves in a troubling situation soon,” Wiley stated, referring to military personnel who reportedly believe such issues need urgent attention, especially as the current administration takes power.
The administration had previously encouraged judges in August to ignore a district court’s ruling that bars immigration agents from considering factors like race and language during stops. There’s been discussion indicating that judges shouldn’t overregulate immigration enforcement, particularly in areas with high illegal immigration.
Wiley criticized the Supreme Court for not clearly defining the dangers of racial profiling, arguing that this weakens the checks and balances in the country. “Without definitive boundaries from the Supreme Court, we risk losing much of our power balance. It’s crucial to ground this in real life. Many people who look Latino or speak Spanish are not violating any laws and genuinely contribute to our nation,” she commented.
She highlighted the prevalent racial profiling that occurs on city streets, suggesting that police often target minorities without justification. “We’ve witnessed arbitrary stops where police decide who to target based only on race—Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American, or Black—it’s a form of racial profiling that puts everyone at risk,” Wiley added.
In a study reported by the Associated Press, it was found that a Pentagon-funded review in 2024 indicated that the presence of white supremacists in the military wasn’t widely recognized; the findings suggested that extremists with ties to the military represented a small fraction of the overall personnel.
