Trump says there will be “no amnesty” and defends his deportation policy as “very strong”

President Donald Trump ruled out on Monday any immigration deal that includes amnesty for immigrants living without authorization in the United States, and defended his deportation policy, which he called “very strong.”

“There will be no amnesty,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “My policy has not changed,” he added, saying the focus will remain on removing “the worst of the worst.” His remarks came a day after he acknowledged, in an interview with 60 Minutes, that deportations had been “too tough” and sounded open to negotiating with Democrats.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also said on Monday that he has received calls from Democrats interested in working on immigration, but he firmly opposed any deal that includes amnesty. Mullin mentioned DACA, the program that protects from deportation people brought to the country as children, as one of the issues under discussion.

The midterm elections exposed voter discontent with the immigration operations: about 6 in 10 voters said the administration's immigration enforcement actions had “gone too far,” according to AP's voter survey of more than 100,000 people.

Photo: People

Source: AP / Telemundo Bowling Green