President Donald Trump, who staked his campaign on a difficult-line approach to illegal immigration, now says he is open to contemplating possible legal status for some undocumented immigrants as element of a compromise to overhaul the nation’s immigration method.
“The time is correct for an immigration bill, as long as there is compromise on both sides,” Trump told news anchors and correspondents attending a White Home luncheon currently.
The president is floating the concept ahead of his 1st address to a joint session of Congress tonight, signaling a willingness to negotiate on an challenge that has pitted Democrats against some Republicans for years. It was not right away clear no matter if the president would raise the concern in his speech.
Trump indicated openness to moving beyond a strict concentrate on law enforcement to addressing the legal status of some of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. – such as a probable path to citizenship for “DREAMers,” who were brought to the country illegally as kids.
“They should not be very worried. They are here illegally. They shouldn't be extremely worried. I do have a major heart. We're going to take care of everybody,” Trump told ABC News' David Muir in his initial televised White House interview in January.
“Now we have criminals that are right here. We have seriously poor men and women that are here. These folks have to be worried 'cause they're acquiring out. We're gonna get them out. We're gonna get 'em out fast,” he added.
Trump campaigned as a “law and order” candidate, vowing strict enforcement of current immigration laws and sweeping work to step up deportations. The Division of Homeland Safety last week issued a directive to initiate stricter enforcement measures.
The White House is also preparing to unveil a new, revised executive order restricting travel and immigration from seven majority Muslim countries immediately after the original order was place on hold by a federal court. That order could come down as early as Wednesday.
The president has stated he is most sympathetic to the plight of "DREAMers," saying at a press conference earlier this month that he finds it “very, extremely hard undertaking what the law says precisely to do."
“I's a really hard thing for me due to the fact, you know, I really like these little ones. I enjoy children,” he mentioned.
Immigrant advocates reacted cautiously to the president’s comments.
“We are not ready to praise him or Republicans,” stated Cesar Vargas, director of the Dream Action Coalition in a statement. “Before Trump can be taken seriously, we have to have to see details.”
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