Clarify...

Trump spokeswoman tries to clarify amnesty stance

By Nick Gass

Donald Trump's refusal to rule out granting legal status for undocumented immigrants who are in the United States is not inconsistent with the plan rolled out by the Republican presidential nominee last week, national spokeswoman Katrina Pierson said Tuesday.

"Well, what Mr. Trump says is that when it comes down to the end of his ten-point plan he'll make a further decision," Pierson told CNN's Alisyn Camerota during a "New Day" segment. "But first he wants to make a commitment to Americans to fulfill everything that previously administrations failed to do, which is to secure the border and control the flow of immigration."

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane on Monday, Trump said, "I'm not ruling out anything" when asked if he could rule out a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants. Camerota interjected as Pierson attempted to explain, remarking, "This is a big deal, the idea that he might actually be open to legal status—"

"It's actually not," Pierson shot back. "Immigration is not showing to be a top priority for Americans in this election cycle."

Camerota responded, "Yes, but he has made it a big deal of his campaign and he had said that every single one of them had to leave. Now it sounds as if he is open to amnesty."

"No. Alisyn, his governing principle is if you are in this country illegally, you need to leave and return legally," Pierson said. "That's been his governing principle. He’s laid out these primary initiatives one through 10, they're on the website so that he can let Americans know are that his priorities are not to go after families. His priorities are to go after the criminal aliens after they build the wall, after they catch and release, implement e-Verify and essentially eliminate all the magnets that draw illegals into this country."

The exchange continued, and Camerota then played the clip of Trump expressing an openness to the immigration idea, asking for Pierson's response.

"Well, again, he has said from the beginning of this campaign all the way back to the primary that he was going to be a negotiator in Congress," Pierson said. "His governing policy has not changed if you're in this country illegally. You should return to your home country and enter legally. He put out a primary initiative so that voters understand he's going to secure the border, build the wall and get control of the tracking and issuances of visas."

Pierson went on to say that if there are more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, Trump would not be able to deport all of them in his first term.

"This is important because Mr. Trump can't promise to deport every single illegal alien in the country if there's 30 million," Pierson continued. "There's not enough time in his presidency to do that which is why he laid out his priorities."

Pierson acknowledged that there will be some "who hide out."

"And we have to come up with something at a later date to take care of that issue," she said.