Trump softens message on immigration

Donald Trump now says he wants “a really fair, but firm” solution for 11 million people living in the United States illegally. Donald Trump now says he wants “a really fair, but firm” solution for 11 million people living in the United States illegally. Photo: TRAVIS DOVE, NYT Photo: TRAVIS DOVE, NYT Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Trump softens message on immigration 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AKRON, Ohio — Republican Donald Trump promised Monday to be “fair but firm” toward the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally, a shift in tone that raised questions on whether he’s backtracking from previous pledges to push for mass deportations.

The billionaire businessman, whose hard-line approach to immigration and fierce rhetoric propelled him to the GOP presidential nomination, insisted that he’s not flip-flopping on the divisive issue as he works to broaden his support 2½ months before the general election.

But in a meeting with Latino activists Saturday, Trump indicated he was open to considering allowing those who have not committed crimes, beyond their immigration offenses, to obtain some form of legal status — though attendees stressed Trump has yet to make up his mind.

“The impression I got was that the campaign is working on substantive policy to help the undocumented that are here, including some type of status so they would not be deported,” said Pastor Mario Bramnick, president of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition, who was in attendance.

Any walk-back would mark a dramatic reversal for Trump. During the GOP primary, Trump pledged to use a “deportation force” to round up and deport the millions of people living in the country illegally — a proposal that excited many of his core supporters, but alienated Latino voters who could be pivotal in key states.

Trump said in an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Monday that he was “working with a lot of people in the Hispanic community to try and come up with an answer.”

“We want to come up with a really fair but firm answer. It has to be very firm. But we want to come up with something fair,” he said.

“As far as everybody else, we’re going to go through the process,” he said, citing the policies of President Obama and former President George W. Bush as examples.

Asked whether Trump’s plan still included a deportation force, his new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said Sunday it was “to be determined.”

Trump had been scheduled to deliver a speech on immigration Thursday in Colorado, but he has postponed it.

And amid talk of a shift, Trump made clear he had no interest in compromising another piece of his immigration plan — a huge wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re going to build the wall, folks,” Trump said Monday evening at a rally in Akron, Ohio. “That wall will go up so fast your head will spin. You’re going to say ‘He meant it!’”