Trump on Illegal Immigrants: ‘They Have To Go’

Billionaire Donald Trump said he’ll triple the number of federal agents to enforce immigration laws, end birthright citizenship and deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants if he’s elected president.  Trump described his expanded vision of how to secure American borders during a wide-ranging interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” and in a position paper he later released, saying that he would push to end the constitutionally protected citizenship rights of children of any family living illegally inside the US.  “They have to go,” Trump said. “What they’re doing, they’re having a baby. And then all of a sudden, nobody knows . .. the baby’s here.”  Trump also told interviewer Chuck Todd he would reverse President Obama’s executive orders on immigration and deport all undocumented immigrants from the U.S. as president, saying, “We’re going to keep the families together, but they have to go.” “We will work with them. They have to go. Chuck, we either have a country, or we don’t have a country,” he said.

The move would rescind Obama’s executive order, known as the Dream Act, offering those brought to the U.S. illegally as children protection from deportation, as well as Obama’s unilateral move to delay deportation for their families as well.  “We have to make a whole new set of standards” Trump said, for those immigrating to the U.S.  In announcing his immigration policy Sunday, Trump also insisted he would get Mexico to construct a wall along the border. If Mexico refuses, a Trump administration would penalize the US ally with measures such as increasing fees on border crossings and visas, imposing tariffs and cutting foreign aid.  The GOP presidential front-runner said he would triple the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, impose a “mandatory return of all criminal aliens” and detain all people caught crossing the border until they are sent home, according to a policy paper the candidate released Sunday.  Currently 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants live in the US, making up 3.5 percent of the population, according to data from the Pew Research Center.  Trump couldn’t explain exactly how he would deport millions of undocumented migrants, but told Todd, “It will work out so well, you will be so happy. In four years you’re going to be interviewing me and you’re going to say, ‘What a great job you’ve done, President Trump.’ ”  In the interview, Trump also outlined more positions on foreign policy and domestic affairs, but stumbled on specifics.  Asked who is advising him on military policy, Trump simply said: “Well, I watch the shows.”  Trump, who is now anti-abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, said he would consider shutting down the government over Planned Parenthood funding and would ask Supreme Court nominees about their positions on abortion.  He called NSA leaker Edward Snowden a “total traitor,” said he is “fine” with affirmative action and said he doesn’t think private companies should fire people for being gay.  As for the $7.25 minimum wage, which some Democratic candidates want increased to $15, Trump said he wants to “keep the minimum wage pretty much where it is right now.”  The owner of beauty pageants said he would consider hiring less-attractive people in his administration because they often have more of an edge than beautiful people. “People that don’t look so good, fight harder,” he said.  The New York real-estate tycoon also acknowledged having received a phone call from former President Bill Clinton encouraging him to get more involved in politics.  “When Bill Clinton called me I had already made up my decision . . . And I think he’s very disappointed that I’m running because I’m the one person that’s going to beat her,” he declared.  The latest national poll from Fox News shows that viewers didn’t think he did very well during the first debate earlier this month, which included a dust-up with moderator Megyn Kelly, but Trump is still leading the 16 other candidates at 25 percent.  He is followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson (12 percent), Ted Cruz (10 percent) and Jeb Bush (9 percent).