NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appoints former adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner, as deputy chief policy officer in his new administration.

Confirming the appointment, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance posted a congratulatory message to Miller on X on Monday, saying, “This is another fantastic choice by the President.” The announcement was first reported by CNN.

Miller is one of Trump’s longest-serving aides, dating back to his first campaign for the White House. He was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term and played a central role in many of his policy decisions, particularly on immigration, including Trump’s move to separate thousands of immigrant families as a deterrent program in 2018.

Miller also helped shape many of Trump’s tough speeches, and was often the public face of those policies during Trump’s first term and during his campaigns.

Since leaving the White House, Miller has served as president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers that is styled as a conservative version of the U.S. government. American Union for Civil Libertieschallenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others on issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.

He was also a regular presence during Trump’s campaign this year, traveling aboard his plane and often speaking before Trump during pre-shows at his rallies.

Miller drew big cheers at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden during the final stretch of the race, telling the crowd that “your salvation is near” after what he called “decades of abuse heaped upon the good people of this country . – their jobs were stolen, looted and shipped from them to Mexico, Asia and abroad. The lives of their loved ones who were then taken away by illegal aliens, criminal gangs and criminals who do not belong in this country.”

“We stand here today at a crossroads,” he continued, calling the election “a choice between betrayal and renewal, between self-destruction and redemption, between America’s failure or America’s triumph.”

Because it is not a cabinet position, the appointment does not require Senate confirmation. ___ Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.