Trump, GOP leaders pledge secure border before deportation policy

Donald Trump and two top Republicans in Congress on Sunday agreed: securing America’s borders is the president-elect’s top immigration priority.

Trump led the GOP’s charge, vowing in an interview to air Sunday evening that the strength of U.S. borders would influence how he deals with the nation’s more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.

{mosads}The declaration follows scrutiny of his campaign rhetoric, as Trump once promised to create a deportation force to rid the country of more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.

But Trump told “60 Minutes” that a determination on deportation policy will come down the road.

“After the border is secure and after everything gets normalized, we’re going to make a determination on the people that they’re talking about, who are terrific people — they’re terrific people, but we are going to make a determination at that,” he said.

“But before we make that determination. … It’s very important, we are going to secure our border.”

The two top House Republicans, Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), who clashed with Trump during the campaign but who have pledged to work with the next president, struck similar notes in their own Sunday news show appearances.

“We’re focused on securing the border,” Ryan said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We think that’s first and foremost before we get into any other immigration issue.”

He added: “We are not planning on erecting a deportation force. Donald Trump is not planning on that.”

The Speaker promised a border security enforcement bill would be the “first priority” once Trump enters office.

Ryan said, “We’ve got to know who’s coming and going in the country.”

McCarthy agreed, telling “Fox News Sunday”: “You have to secure the southern border. I think that’s very doable and one of the things that has to be done. I believe you have to have security all the way through.”

The three Republican leaders diverged, however, on handling the nation’s undocumented immigration population once its first goal is accomplished.

Trump pledged he would immediately deport or incarcerate 2 million to 3 million “criminal” undocumented immigrants once he enters office in January.

“What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably 2 million — it could be even 3 million — we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate,” he told “60 Minutes.”

“But we’re getting them out of our country,” the billionaire added. “They’re here illegally.”

Ryan, in an interview airing hours before Trump’s “60 Minutes” appearance, downplayed Trump’s past calls for a deportation force.

And McCarthy admitted Trump might face an uphill battle launching mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

“I think it’s difficult to do,” he said, emphasizing that border protection is the more pressing matter.

Trump initially promised he would create a task force for deporting undocumented immigrants residing in America illegally.

 “You’re going to have a deportation force, and you’re going to do it humanely,” he said one year ago.

“Look, we have to do what we have to do, and Ike did it and other people have done it,” Trump added, referencing President Dwight Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback,” which deported about 1.5 million people.

Trump made hardline immigration rhetoric an early part of his White House run, a move that inspired fervent support from conservative, grassroots voters.

Republicans struggled during the campaign with how Trump’s remarks may effect their party’s standing with Hispanic voters. But The New York Times reported that exit polls showed 11 percent Latino turnout — the same as in 2012 — with 29 percent voting for Trump.

Trump has struck a softer tone overall since winning the presidency last Tuesday but has reaffirmed immigration remains a key concern for his future administration.   

He made a concession in Sunday’s “60 Minutes” interview, saying his much-touted border wall might not be the completely solid structure he talked about on the trail.

“There could be some fencing,” he said.

“For certain areas I would [consider it], but certain areas, a wall is more appropriate.”

“I’m very good at this, it’s called construction,” he added.

McCarthy on Sunday morning said the structure could be physical but noted a “virtual” version is possible as well.