Trump has faced fire in recent days from far-right conservatives who worry he is softening his stance on immigration, specifically how to address undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. While Trump launched his campaign off a promise to deport all 11 million of the country’s undocumented immigrants, he appears to be shifting his tone.
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In what would be a stunning reversal on an issue central to his candidacy, Donald Trump floated a possible process to allow undocumented immigrants to remain in America in a town hall that aired Wednesday.
“No citizenship. Let me go a step further – they’ll pay back-taxes, they have to pay taxes, there’s no amnesty, as such, there’s no amnesty, but we work with them”, Trump told Sean Hannity when asked if he would allow for exceptions to his long-held position. On Sunday, Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta said they believe Trump’s “immigration plan remains the same as it’s always been: tear apart families and deport 16 million people from the United States”. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who’s been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it’s so tough, Mr. Trump.’ I have it all the time! “It’s a very hard thing”.
The Republican nominee then returned to one of his tougher stances by slamming sanctuary cities for “protecting criminals”, where he claimed police are at the point “where they nearly give up”. “We are going to enforce our laws, remove people who overstay their visas, dismantle the gangs and cartels, and protect jobs and benefits for hardworking American citizens”. “There certainly can be a softening because we’re not looking to hurt people”, he said when asked by Hannity if there was “any part of the law” he would change to accommodate law-abiding immigrants who have kids in the U.S. It began over the weekend, when he met with Hispanic leaders and told them that he was open to legalization for undocumented immigrants. “If you’re a killer and you’re an illegal immigrant, the police don’t know what to do”.
The Republican nominee said he “would come out with a decision very soon” about deportations.
Wednesday night, a Trump campaign source confirmed the real estate mogul will outline his immigration policies in a speech next Wednesday in Phoenix.
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Trump plans to speak at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix Aug. 31. Two officials with knowledge of the Trump campaign’s plans confirmed the topic was immigration to the AP. He recently disavowed a tax plan he released earlier in the race and is now hedging on whether his plan to ban all Muslim travel, a signature campaign proposal that is still on his website, remains his current position.
