MEXICO CITY

Since President Trump resumed office, the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped to the lowest point in decades.

For one of Mr. Trump’s top policy advisers, that is not enough.

In conversations with both American and Mexican officials over the last several months, Stephen Miller has insisted that illegal border crossings must be reduced, according to officials in both countries familiar with the private conversations but not authorized to discuss them.

Mr. Miller’s goal, they said, is zero crossings. Mexican officials have said that, with a nearly 2,000-mile border, that is simply not possible.

In his new role as chief of staff, Mr. Miller is expected to continue driving that agenda.

One of the main forums for Mr. Miller’s demands has been his near daily calls with the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald ​Johnson, some of the officials said. On calls with staff, Mr. Miller, previously the deputy chief of staff, frequently rails about the number of border crossings, despite their low figures, the officials said.

That has been especially true in recent months, they said, as border crossings increased slightly, to the highest point in Mr. Trump’s second term.

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