President Trump signals shift in immigration stance after naming new chief of staff
The White House head admitted recent deportation tactics were overly harsh while Louisiana Democrats and business leaders weigh in on the potential for legislative change.
By Luana Sato ·
President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that he is prepared to collaborate with the incoming Democratic majority in Congress on immigration policy. This statement followed a interview aired the previous day on CBS's 60 Minutes, where the President conceded that his administration's deportation efforts may have exceeded the intended scope.
During the 60 Minutes segment, Trump stated, "I think it was too tough. I think it might be too tough, yeah." He expressed a desire to work with the new congressional leadership, marking a distinct shift from his previous rhetoric regarding the aggressive enforcement of immigration laws.
The President reaffirmed the core objective of his administration at a White House event on Monday. "My policy hasn't changed. What we are doing is absolutely the worst of the worst. We're getting the murderers. They allowed people to come in from prisons, they emptied their prisons into our country," Trump said.
Louisiana Democratic Representative Troy Carter reacted to the President's comments during an interview with FOX 8. Carter acknowledged the positive nature of the President reconsidering his approach but questioned the sincerity of the shift. "Anytime the President rethinks himself, that's a good thing. But clearly, he can't mean it enough, because he doubled down by the architect of his failed immigration policy has now just been promoted to his chief of staff," Carter said.
The comments by Carter refer to a personnel change announced on Friday. President Trump named Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff, a move that followed the removal of Susie Wiles from the position. Miller has been a central figure in designing the administration's strict immigration enforcement strategies.
Carter noted that while the public supported the initial goal of removing violent criminals, the execution of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations has caused disruption. "We all made it very clear: if the President's mission was to get rapists and murderers and the bad guys off the street, we supported that," Carter said. He added that the operations have targeted working people, children, and long-term lawful residents.
Dan Mills, CEO of the Homebuilders Association of Greater New Orleans, offered a business perspective on the President's recent admissions. Mills stated that the President acknowledged the border strategy was successful but perhaps exceeded public readiness. Mills emphasized that many productive residents, including taxpaying workers, need a clear path to documentation. He cited workforce shortages extending into hospitality and agriculture sectors as a result of the crackdown.
When asked if Democrats would pursue cooperation, Carter stated, "We will work with the President and anybody else on anything if they're willing to do the right thing." He described an ideal agreement as a complete revamp of the immigration system, including the eradication of current ICE structures and the creation of a path to citizenship that avoids profiling.
Mills mentioned that his national association lobbied in Washington during the spring for specific legislation. He pointed to the Constructs Act, which supports workforce development through programs like Job Corps, and the Dignity Act, which aims to balance secure borders with legal immigration supply for the labor market.
Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and U.S. Senator John Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment regarding the President's new stance and the upcoming legislative session.
