Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated of a battle over ending birthright citizenship via legislation “I believe you can win it legally” and that when it comes to illegal immigrants working in the US, “I want them to go out. But I want them to come back in legally. So, they can come back, and they can work for those companies” in an interview broadcast on CNN on Thursday.
Trump first responded to concerns that he will alienate the Hispanic population with, “I have to do the right thing. It’s a time, this country is so politically correct. Nobody wants to take a stance on anything.” And maintained that the issue wouldn’t be brought up if it wasn’t for him before adding, “at some point we have to be honest with ourselves. it’s called, now they like to use the word ‘undocumented’ because it is more political. I don’t use that word. They’re illegal immigrants. They came over illegally. Some are wonderful people, and they’ve been here for a while. They got to go out. They got to leave.”
When asked, “How do you do it in a practical way?” He answered, “They’ve got to leave. And you know what? At some point, we’re going to try getting them back, the good ones.”
Trump was later asked why Mexico would agree to pay for the cost of a border fence. He answered, “Because they make a fortune with us. Our companies are moving into Mexico more than almost any other place right now. We’re losing our industry. We’re losing our business to Mexico. Their leaders are smart as hell.”
Trump was then asked about birthright citizenship and children of illegal immigrants born in the US, “the citizenship for those babies you are revoking, now, and retroactively?” He responded, “Number one, the 14th Amendment is very questionable as whether or not somebody can come over, have a baby, and immediately that baby is a citizen.”
Trump also argued it would take too long to amend the Constitution to end birthright citizenship, and “I believe you can win it legally, okay? I believe you can win it legally. And, in any event, the parents have to leave. If the parents leave, unless they’re very bad people, they’re going to take their baby.”
Trump also stated, “These people, the really good ones, and we have some great ones. We’re going to try and expedite so they can come back, but they’re going to come back legally. Let me tell you, when you look at Baltimore, when you look at Chicago, when you look at the crime that’s going on, you have some of these people are illegal immigrants. I mean they’re illegal. They’ve come into the country. They’re gang members. They’re the toughest of the group. They’re tough. They’re rough. I’d get them out before I start building the wall. And I will start building that wall soon. I will get them out. The first thing I’m doing, is getting the bad ones out. And they’re gone. And they’re not coming back either. I’m going to increase the hell out of the border in terms of the guards and Border Patrol…”
When asked about going after employers who hire illegal immigrants, Trump said, “First of all, we do have people that could do those jobs. And they’re unemployed now in this country. Second of all, those good people, that have been working with [these companies], I want them to come back in. I want them to go out. But I want them to come back in legally. So, they can come back, and they can work for those companies. I do want them to come back in.” Asked again whether he would go after employers, Trump answered, “Well, the one way you find out who they are is through the employers, absolutely.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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