Trump says immigration policy was too tough, seeks deal

President Donald Trump said his immigration enforcement policy may have been too tough and hurt Republicans in the midterm elections, while expressing interest in negotiating an immigration deal with Democrats. He offered no specific terms for such an agreement in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday, November 8.

Trump said enforcement had been popular with some voters, particularly efforts to close the southern border and deport people he described as criminals. But he said removing people with established jobs, whose immigration violations included entering the country illegally, had created political difficulties. He cited hotel and landscaping workers, including some who had lived in the United States for 10 to 15 years and paid taxes.

Asked about a possible agreement, Trump said he would like to work with Democrats and believed a deal was achievable. He suggested some long-term workers without serious criminal records could be allowed to stay, while saying people who commit serious crimes should be deported. He did not identify a legal mechanism, eligibility rules or other requirements.

The remarks followed a midterm election in which Democrats won control of both...