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Trump backs off pledge of immediate immigration change

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By ALICIA A. CALDWELL

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54 Comments
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Nice! Something temporarily positive for a change.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Trump has said that Mexico will reimburse the U.S. for the fence

When Trump was a student In the 1960s there was a popular US TV show called 'Get Smart'. The main character, Maxwell Smart, often exaggerated and when his whopper had been caught out would back down and say 'Would you believe...'. I'm waiting to see what Trump's 'Would you believe...' back down point on this (and others) will finally be.

Would you believe a nice shrubbery paid for by the US taxpayers that'll be planted by one of his corporations?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

He's not backing off, but simply doing what he said he would do. Never did he say that he would start mass deportations, that was only a talking point from his detractors. He refined his views during the election by saying that first he would go after the criminal illegal aliens who are in US jails, and send them back to their home countries.

That alone is roughly about 1.9 million according to ICE. So start there and then see what happens. But what will happen, is we will get the sob story, of how a families loved one who was in jail, was deported away and because they are illegal they can't go and visit them in jail back in their home country, and this will be viewed as cruel and unusual punishment and an injunction by the ACLU will be in the works.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

He's not backing off, but simply doing what he said he would do. Never did he say that he would start mass deportations, that was only a talking point from his detractors.

Liberals can't read through the lines, they take every word literally.

@PT

Don't ruin my childhood memories of Get Smart, but the Obama admin, did remind me of Kaos.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

How many other things will he back off from ? In the end he may disappoint the "gung ho" Trump supporters the most (as opposed to the many "hold-your-nose" Trump supporters or the Americans who just don't don't like Trump at all).

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Nice. Not only does Trump back off, it makes his supporters look gullible to believe his empty promises.

Double win.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Amazing how people howl about Trump's promises, and then accuse him of being wishy-washy when he backs off the very promises they hated so much. I suppose if he decides to keep funding Planned Parenthood, the left will complain that he just can't be trusted anymore.

Thankfully, his supporters have more sense. They don't see political leaders as idols, and don't swallow campaign promises the way the left does.

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

And for Real news. Trumps published position paper still available and published months ago for his campaign Always focused on criminals. There was never a campaign promise to do anything to non criminal aliens. That position paper even stated deportation would not be the action taken against visa overstays and others. So this article headline is a lie. Fake news. Trump never had a policy limited to the simplistic a, tion to round up and deport everyone. Since the policy or pro. Use never existed, there is no way the article is factual

-14 ( +2 / -16 )

those immigrants who have overstayed visas will also be among the administration’s enforcement priorities.

According to a Pew Research Center report from earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security estimated close to 93,000 Canadians and 124,000 Europeans illegally over stayed their visas in fiscal year 2015. These Canadians and European visa over stayers account for just about half of all the estimated 416,000 people that violated the terms of their visas in that year.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

He is first going after illegals that have committed felonies, high level or repeated misdemeanors and crimes associated with gang activity. Civil violations,like entering the U.S. without being inspected at the border, overstaying a visa, working while on a visa that does not allow it etc. are going to be secondary priorities. That has been clear at least since the start of the general election.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Nice. Not only does Trump back off, it makes his supporters look gullible to believe his empty promises.

Wow three days on the job and already trying to call his supporters gullible for voting for someone who said he wants to enforce the law over the women who went to a foreign country and gave a speech calling for open borders. Most American's would be satisfied with some progress in reducing illegal immigration. Obama, also an open borders fan, actually encouraged it.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Nice. Not only does Trump back off, it makes his supporters look gullible to believe his empty promises.

Double win.

Exactly. For whatever reason, backing off from, watering down or otherwise ignoring ridiculous Trump campaign pledges is of course by definition good. And if on top of that it begins to erode the support of the small minority of American voters who voted for him, all the better. But never fear, because Sean Spicer will swear black is white and therefore this is not a case of backing off. Period.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

There was never a campaign promise to do anything to non criminal aliens

Really?

Billionaire Donald Trump said he’ll triple the number of federal agents to enforce immigration laws, end birthright citizenship and deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants if he’s elected president.

http://nypost.com/2015/08/16/trump-outlines-strict-plan-to-combat-illegal-immigration-they-must-go/

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@Wolfp Obama, also an open borders fan, actually encouraged it.

Using Trump's Ministry of Truth's glossary, would your statement be called 'fake news' or 'alternative fact'? In the post-truth era there are no lies, so what would it be?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Billionaire Donald Trump said he’ll triple the number of federal agents to enforce immigration laws, end birthright citizenship and deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants if he’s elected president.

Did he also say that it would be his highest priority of immigrant violator ? That it would happen the first week ? Crack down on employment laws and border security and self deportation will take care of the rest.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

He is first going after illegals that have committed felonies, high level or repeated misdemeanors and crimes associated with gang activity. Civil violations,like entering the U.S. without being inspected at the border, overstaying a visa, working while on a visa that does not allow it etc. are going to be secondary priorities.

So in other words, he's going to do things exactly the same as Obama has been doing them.

The more Trump flops on his campaign flips, the more his camp doubles down on coming up with excuses for his broken campaign promises.

It may be true that he could unite the country - he seems to be shifting to do pretty much exactly what Obama's been doing, but through his inflammatory words, he's convinced the right to not only support him on this, but to actually defend him. So he may end up doing what the left wants, while having the right support him, thereby unifying everyone! If he did it, it would literally be a stroke of extreme genius.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Removing criminal illegal aliens was always the first step. Just when he said it people wouldnt listen because they wanted to think it meant he was going to break up families and deport babies and Grandma.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Removing criminal illegal aliens was always the first step.

If you do something that was already being done, how is that making any step?

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Because it was NOT going to be done by Clinton (open borders) and was being halfheartedly done at best by Obama.

Just Google illegal alien murders and see how many of them should have been deported after they were arrested but were released to commit murder despite being known illegals. Also all the ones protected by these so called sanctuary cities, that wont be happening anymore either. First steps.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Because it was NOT going to be done by Clinton (open borders)

Fake news.

and was being halfheartedly done at best by Obama.

Fake news.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

If you are in a country totally illegally then you are not an immigrant you are an illegal alien a person with no status in the country that you are in. It'll be hard to handle the sanctuary cities until Trump gets the INS and FBI to do their jobs- go after everyone who breaches federal law and their accomplices- I'd like to see the police chiefs and city legsilators for being accomplices that is the only way to stop them.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Both are real news.

Clinton said in the leaked bank speech that she was for open borders. You said that the Trump dossier was news based on a leaked document, so same thing- you cant have it both ways. Not saying it is true, just saying she never forcefully denied it.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/there-arent-2-to-3-million-undocumented-immigrants-with-criminal-records-for-trump-to-deport/

There are at least 840,000 known criminals who were not deported by Obama (including 140,000 in jail now). This link states that the resources to do so exist, so why hasnt it been done? this information makes this news as well, because it is true.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Apostle 1 claim:

There was never a campaign promise to do anything to non criminal aliens

Response:

(NY Post 2015/08/16): Billionaire Donald Trump said he’ll triple the number of federal agents to enforce immigration laws, end birthright citizenship and deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants if he’s elected president.

Retort by Apostle 2 of the ADHD Messiah (all praise Him unconditionally, or else):

Did he also say that it would be his highest priority of immigrant violator ? That it would happen the first week?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

“That’s where the priority’s going to be, and then we’re going to continue to work through the entire number of folks that are here illegally,” he said.

Its right here in the article. How does this statement cause the headline to be that Trump is backing off his pledge? work through the entire number it says. He also said as far back as last August that he would NOT be focusing at first on the 11 million undocumented aliens who are in the USA but who are not criminals.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obamas-deportation-policy-numbers/story?id=41715661

So he is doing exactly what he said he would and has announced that he will be taking the first steps on his FIRST real day of work.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Clinton said in the leaked bank speech that she was for open borders.

Fake news.

There are at least 840,000 known criminals who were not deported by Obama

Fake news.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Empty promises - he's a politician. They all promise things they cannot achieve. I'm hopeful for a number of immigration reforms. I'd like to see a guest worker program for unskilled labor, a top 1%-only H-1b VISA program that doesn't allow "cheap" labor, but just the top 1%'ers paid at least 50% higher than the average for a specific position. And perhaps we need a Constitutional amendment that prevents citizen by birth if either parent is in the country illegally. My grandparents immigrated, legally, to the USA. I love LEGAL immigrants; those who play by the rules.

@cloa513 If you are in a country totally illegally then you are not an immigrant you are an illegal alien a person with no status in the country that you are in.

Exactly. Perhaps Japan would like to take some of the 12M illegal aliens? Oh ... that's right the 150 legal Syrians are too much already. https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-backs-off-pregnancy-clause-for-syrian-refugees I assume the down votes - which will come shortly - are from liberals looking to get 3M more people into their political party. Oddly, 1st generation legal immigrants to the USA want those people skipping the line shipped back from where they came. There's a BBC article about that.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Can you provide a link to that paper please Todd?Just doing a quick search I only seem to be able to find articles on Trump saying he would deport millions of people..

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Nice. Not only does Trump back off, it makes his supporters look gullible to believe his empty promises.

How so? Focusing efforts on curbing and stopping criminal and illegal immigration and deporting them, seems to be on track.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

SuperLib: "Nice. Not only does Trump back off, it makes his supporters look gullible to believe his empty promises."

Exactly! It's quite amusing watching them scramble to defend it. He lived up to something like two out of 32 promises he said he would make on his first day if office.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Exactly! It's quite amusing watching them scramble to defend it. He lived up to something like two out of 32 promises he said he would make on his first day if office.

Don't worry Smith, he's got 8 more years to go, so there will be plenty of time to fulfill the majority of those promises.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Oddly, 1st generation legal immigrants to the USA want those people skipping the line shipped back from where they came.

Immigrant pecking order is nothing new, and arguably structural in a country where African Americans couldn't be naturalized until 1870, and immigration policy included racial distinctions until as recently as 1952.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Don't worry Smith, he's got 8 more years to go, so there will be plenty of time to fulfill the majority of those promises.

You keep telling yourself that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"Exactly! It's quite amusing watching them scramble to defend it. He lived up to something like two out of 32 promises he said he would make on his first day if office."

"Don't worry Smith, he's got 8 more years to go, so there will be plenty of time to fulfill the majority of those promises."

He certainly kept his promise about the TPP. You must be disappointed.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Not at all.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

He should train the National Guards to handle non lethal conflict caused by illegal immigrant deportations. Things wont go smooth if he proceed his election promise.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Bass

What made you change your mind on the TPP?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What made you change your mind on the TPP?

For the reason that Trump stated.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

bass4funk: "Don't worry Smith, he's got 8 more years to go, so there will be plenty of time to fulfill the majority of those promises."

First, he won't last a year. Second, your comment does not reflect the fact that the man completely lied AGAIN. Seems you suddenly don't care about lies since Trump won, not even the ones he lied to you about -- you just suddenly think it's not only okay, but great to be lied to. Then when it's pointed out, you can just deflect by blaming the media for covering the lies, not the lies themselves. And now you can even call the lies "alternative facts".

3 ( +3 / -0 )

First, he won't last a year.

Uh-huh...ok...First he will never get nominated, can't beat 17 of the best and most experienced GOP candidates, then he can't beat Hillary, then making remarks about McCain and supposedly a handicapped person and then talking about grabbing women's privates and his taxes and the Russian conundrum and with the help of George Soros and Hollyweird and the Democrats and the entire liberal media and the assault and heavy constant barrage of attacks and still Trump is in the White House, so now you say, he won't last a year?

After 2 years of trying, the only thing I can is good luck with that, because it ain't going to happen, just like how everything else failed you guys. ROFL

Second, your comment does not reflect the fact that the man completely lied AGAIN.

Ok, I got it, but Obama lied all the time, as a matter of fact, I lost count. This is Trump's first week, so what's your point?

Seems you suddenly don't care about lies since Trump won, not even the ones he lied to you about -- you just suddenly think it's not only okay, but great to be lied to.

What lies? You have to be a moron to think ANY president can keep EVERY promise, if he can deliver on the majority, it will be a big step in the right direction. Look, I could care less if the libs, go nuts because he doesn't keep his words verbatim, I am aware that's not always possible, Trump is a man, not a God, so don't hold him to that standard, I know you all thought Obama was omnipotent, but Trump is a mere mortal fallible.

Then when it's pointed out, you can just deflect by blaming the media for covering the lies, not the lies themselves. And now you can even call the lies "alternative facts".

No, I blame the media because I know how they operate and I know they would never give a conservative a chance, that's just a fact, sorry if you don't approve, but I have seen this for too many years and worked to long to NOT it.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

"What made you change your mind on the TPP?"

"For the reason that Trump stated."

That makes sense. Trump's erudition and grasp of the finer details of economics are indeed persuasive.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Trump's erudition and grasp of the finer details of economics are indeed persuasive.

I am always befuddled at how far out to the sea the liberal mind is.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

@bass the media because I know how they operate and I know they would never give a conservative a chance, that's just a fact,

So when the Murdoch global media empire, Breitbart, the Washington Times and the dozens of other rightwing media outlets give 'conservatives a chance', trumpet their allegiance for them, distort truth and even create fake news stories to support them, is that, using Trump's newest meme, just an alternative fact?

Obama lied all the time

Why do 'conservatives' want to always live in the past? Can't you move on? Traditionally in US politics, conservatives have wanted to maintain the status quo and have been averse to change. Trump clearly wants to maintain the status quo (look at his cabinet members) but says he wants to change things. It could be, though, the changes he says he wants to make are those that will keep the status quo rich. Like a true Republican, he wants to ensure those who are wealthy can maintain their wealth.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"I am always befuddled at how far out to the sea the liberal mind is."

I can understand rightists getting wound up by Trump's promises to build a wall, deport immigrants, lock Hillary Clinton up, ban Muslims etc. but the idea of a person ( economically literate enough to have published articles in an elite journal on economic issues ) doing a 180 on the TPP based on the pronouncements of Donald Trump is astonishing.

What exactly was it which was caused such a radical change of mind?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I can understand rightists getting wound up by Trump's promises to build a wall, deport immigrants,

He never said, he wasn't. He's meeting with the Mexican president this week to start talks and negotiations about the money they send back to repatriate some of that to build a wall and to make it a priority to deport criminal illegal aliens, so no promises broken. Don't know what you're talking about.

lock Hillary Clinton up, ban Muslims etc.

Yes, I know, you guys are si used to Obama lying constantly, I do understand why you would think so, but this is very different. Trump is usually a man of his word, has pretty much always been.

What exactly was it which was caused such a radical change of mind?

A rude awakening.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Jimizo; You are overgeneralizing. Trump never said he would "deport immigrants". He would deport illegal aliens and visa overstayers. They are, by definition, NOT immigrants. Ditto with "ban Muslims". He will insist on thorough screening of people from predominantly Muslim countries, especially those with a history of supporting terrorism.

Those seem like very sensible precautions for any president to take. A country, by definition, is its borders. Remove the borders and you endanger the country.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I am always befuddled at how far out to the sea the liberal mind is.

bass@from the tone of your posts, I think it's accurate for you to end the above statement with "befuddled."

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Trump never said he would "deport immigrants". He would deport illegal aliens and visa overstayers. They are, by definition, NOT immigrants. Ditto with "ban Muslims". He will insist on thorough screening of people from predominantly Muslim countries, especially those with a history of supporting terrorism.

That's the fine print liberals tend to overlook always.

@laptop

Humor is something liberals should stay far away from. LOL

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Trump is usually a man of his word, has pretty much always been.

Where do I begin . . .

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So when the Murdoch global media empire, Breitbart, the Washington Times and the dozens of other rightwing media outlets give 'conservatives a chance', trumpet their allegiance for them, distort truth and even create fake news stories to support them, is that, using Trump's newest meme, just an alternative fact?

Yeah, you are over-exaggerating the facts. WSJ and FOX, but Washington Times have been very tough on Trump, but fair and not one-sided.

Why do 'conservatives' want to always live in the past? Can't you move on?

If the liberals would let them.

Traditionally in US politics, conservatives have wanted to maintain the status quo and have been averse to change.

Not adverse to change, but to the change that progressives want to take the world down the road to socialism and to become more reliant on government dependency programs and entitlements. Question, how is it, so many people can get off to protest, I gotta work, do these people even have jobs to protest or loot, beat the crap out of people?

Trump clearly wants to maintain the status quo (look at his cabinet members) but says he wants to change things.

I sure hope he does! Get the people working, less dependent on government, shrink the size of it and cut taxes across the board and repair our badly needed infrastructure that's falling apart across the country.

It could be, though, the changes he says he wants to make are those that will keep the status quo rich.

That would be great!!! How many poor people can provide jobs. I love the rich, without them, I wouldn't have a roof over my head. Can't get that from a poor person.

Like a true Republican, he wants to ensure those who are wealthy can maintain their wealth.

As he should.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

^^ Needs attention.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Trump is usually a man of his word, has pretty much always been."

"Where do I begin . . ."

Indeed. This is taking on the characteristics of a cult for some. Previously held beliefs are being left outside the tent with the shoes as Trump levitates on a cloud of his own gas.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Trump is slowly, but surely checking all the boxes on his list:

Control the media by not allowing them to ask questions unless he screens them first and consider all negative print as "fake news". CHECK

Ban all gay and lesbian thoughts from people. CHECK

Bring back segregation. CHECK

Take away all women's rights. CHECK

Ban all trade with foreign countries, thus leading to decreased competition and higher prices for the American consumer. (Sure, jobs in the U.S. will increase, but can Americans afford to buy higher priced products?) COMING SOON

Start war with China. COMING SOON
0 ( +1 / -1 )

White nationalists' heads are exploding.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The more Trump flops on his campaign flips, the more his camp doubles down on coming up with excuses for his broken campaign promises.

After eight years Obama fails to close Gitmo, fails to end the wars, fails to lower health insurance costs, fails to lower the oceans, and fails to prevent Russian hacking of the DNC and millions of American's government records and after five days as president Trump is breaking campaign promises. That's not all that fair and balanced you know.

Fake news.

There is a lot of fake news going on around. Has the Left's White House pool reporter found MLK's bust in the Oval Office yet?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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