In a wide-ranging interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, former President Donald Trump revealed openness to granting legal status to certain undocumented immigrants β a marked departure from his typically hardline immigration rhetoric. The comments came just days after replacing establishment-aligned chief of staff Susie Wiles with immigration hawk Stephen Miller.
‘Get the Killers Out, But…’
Trump framed his proposal as a pragmatic compromise, telling interviewer Lesley Stahl: “Get the killers out. Get all the rough ones out. Get the drug dealers out. But let the people that are here, and in some cases here for ten and 15 years, work a deal for them.” The former president specifically referenced undocumented workers in service sector jobs like hotel housekeeping and landscaping.
The remarks immediately sparked controversy among Trump’s base. A February 2026 Harvard Harris poll showed 79% of Republicans support deporting all undocumented immigrants β a position now championed by new Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Political Calculus Behind the Pivot
Analysts suggest Trump’s softened tone may reflect shifting political realities after Democrats expanded their congressional majorities in last week’s midterms. With investigations looming from Democratic lawmakers, some observers see Trump testing immigration compromises that could defuse opposition.
Yet the former president’s own words acknowledge the risks. “I think [deportation policy] might be too tough,” Trump conceded, while noting enforcement both helped and hurt GOP candidates. He attributed Republican losses partly to base voters staying home amid foreign policy frustrations.
Employer Impacts and Economic Fallout
Immigration experts warn that simply discussing amnesty could have immediate consequences. “Talk of leniency acts as a magnet for new border crossers,” noted one analyst. Labor economists also caution that protecting existing undocumented workforces could suppress the wage growth Trump needs to win back working-class voters.
The interview highlights Trump’s enduring pattern of floating moderate immigration positions during negotiations, only to abandon them amid conservative backlash. Whether this latest trial balloon survives contact with Miller and the GOP base remains uncertain.
Source: www.breitbart.com β https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/11/08/trump-dangles-amnesty-illegal-aliens-jobs/