Trump on Illegal Immigrant Residency: We'll Decide Later

Donald Trump, a week after stating in a speech that the only option for illegal immigrants is to return to their home countries, refrained on Monday from announcing a definitive policy regarding the deportation of all illegal immigrants from the United States. Nearly 11 million illegal immigrants are living and working in the U.S.; some of their relatives, close ones, or family members are currently U.S. citizens, and some have had children while in the U.S. Immigration policies are among the key points of Donald Trump's campaign as the Republican nominee. His rival, Hillary Clinton, has stated that if she wins the presidential election in November, she will build a wall at the Mexico-U.S. border at Mexico's expense. He has also taken a hard stance on immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, although the articulation of these policies has been newsworthy in itself, as they have been adjusted and intensified. Last week, during a speech in Phoenix, Trump stated, 'There will be no amnesty. Our message to the world is: If you enter illegally, you cannot obtain legal residency or citizenship in the U.S.' He mentioned that immigrants seeking legal residency have 'one way and only one way: go back to your country and apply for entry from there.' However, in comments made on Monday, September 6, to reporters, there was no certainty in Trump's words: 'I’m not ruling anything out... We’ll decide on this later. Okay?' In an interview with ABC, Trump also mentioned that something might be done to allow illegal immigrants to stay. He added that he is still grappling with the issue of deporting immigrants whose children were born in the U.S.: 'It’s a very tough job.' Trump's remarks last week, following a meeting with the President of Mexico, also made headlines. The Republican nominee stated that he did not discuss the cost of the wall he wants to build at the border with the Mexican president. However, the Mexican president explicitly stated, 'I said we are not paying for the wall.' Hours later, when Trump arrived in the U.S., he stated in his speech in Phoenix, 'They don’t know yet, but believe me, Mexico will pay for the wall.' The U.S. presidential election will be held on November 8. The 45th President of the United States will begin his term in January next year.