Trump offers mixed messages on immigration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, signaling a potential shift on a signature issue, indicated Tuesday in a private meeting with news anchors that he's open to immigration legislation that would give legal status to some people living in the U.S. illegally and provide a pathway to citizenship to those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
The message was underscored by the administration's decision to invite family members of people killed by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to sit in first lady Melania Trump's box.
Trump campaigned as an immigration hard-liner, vowing to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and pledging to step up deportations.
Since taking office, some of his policy moves have hewed closely to those promises, including new guidance from the Department of Homeland Security that would subject any immigrant in the country illegally to deportation if they are charged or convicted of any offense, or even suspected of a crime.
Congress last took up immigration legislation in 2013, after Hispanic voters overwhelmingly backed Obama in his re-election campaign.
The popularity of Trump's tough immigration message among Republican voters appeared to kill any prospect of taking up legislation during his tenure.
"Comprehensive is the code word for amnesty and everyone knows that by now," King said, arguing Trump needed to make good on his campaign promises including ending protections for the younger immigrants brought here illegally as kids.