After a series of conflicting statements on how he proposes to deal with 11 million illegal immigrants, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will finally lay out his plan on this critical election issue at a major campaign event to be held in Arizona on Wednesday.
Over the past week, Trump managed to utterly confuse the American public at large with divergent statements at his rallies and media interviews on his long-held position that, if elected President, he would deport all 11 million illegal immigrants.
But with his poll numbers lagging way behind that of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Trump signalled a likely softening of his colossal deportation plan in what was seen as a belated move to win the support of the large Hispanic community.
A couple of days later, he appeared to make a fast treat, saying he was going to harden, not soften, on his immigration plank. Over the weekend, he announced at a rally in Iowa that on Day 1 as President, he would “begin swiftly removing criminal illegal immigrants from this country”. That, however, left the question on where he stands vis-à-vis the overwhelming majority of illegal immigrants without a criminal background.
“I will be making a major speech on illegal immigration on Wednesday in the Great State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue,” Trump tweeted on Sunday night -- after talking heads on several Sunday talk shows assailed him over his quick-changing positions on an issue of great import.
Trump first touched off the confusion and backlash from his own committed support base when he told Fox News last Wednesday that he would be open to some “softening” by allowing undocumented immigrants without criminal background to continue to stay, but without a path to US citizenship.
A day later, Trump modified his stand, telling CNN: “There’s no path to legalisation unless they leave the country…When they come back in, then they can start paying taxes, but there is no path to legalisation unless they leave the country and then come back.”
While waffling on the issue of mass deportations, Trump, however, has remained firm on his other pet project – to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and make, as he continues to swear by, Mexico pay for it.
Trump’s vice presidential running mate Mike Pence, questioned at length by CNN on Sunday, maintained that nothing has changed on his plan to deal with illegal immigration. “He put this issue at the centre of his presidential campaign in the Republican primary. His position and his principles have been absolutely consistent,” Pence claimed, adding Trump’s plan will include securing the border, building a wall, enforcing existing laws and ending sanctuary cities.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that Trump will deliver prepared remarks clarifying his position on immigration. “His position is going to be tough. His position is going to be fair. His position is going to be humane,” Priebus told NBC News.